Kawasaki Frontale – GK Ando is with the Olympic team. DFs Jeci and Komiyama should be ready to return, but DF Morishita will be out for at least two months.
Omiya Ardija – MF Higashi is with the Olympic team. MF Murakami out for at least two months.

Ten wins for Frontale, eight for Ardija and five draws over the last decade

Kawasaki Frontale (10th – P18 W8 D3 L7 GD -3 Pts. 27) have slipped to 10th position and have not scored in their last four games – two 0-0 draws and two losses and will be looking to kickstart the 2nd half of their season before they slip into the relegation zone. Therefore playing against Omiya Ardija (14th – P18 W5 D 5 L5 GD -13 Pts. 19) is almost the proverbial six-pointer and could be the game that sees Frontale pull away from the bottom half and push Ardija back into the relegation dogfight. They WILL miss Higashi (in London) and we can EXPECT a narrow WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!

Kashiwa Reysol – DF Fujita is out for at least two more weeks.
Cerezo Osaka – MF Yamaguchi is suspended AND with the Olympic team! MF Ogihara is with Olympic team and MF B K Kim is with Korea’s Olympic team. FW Kempes is suspended.

Four wins for Reysol, just one for Cerezo, and four draws, all in J1, since 2003.

Kashiwa Reysol (5th – P18 W9 D3 L6 GD +8 Pts. 30) out a fantastic run together – going from the lower reaches to within points of the top – before losing to Grampus two games back. They recovered and put five past S-Pulse last game, although being helped by red cards to the opposition! They won’t have as much trouble against Cerezo Osaka (15th – P18 W5 D4 L9 GD -5 Pts. 20), who are missing three key players to London AND have lost Kiyotake, of course. They have just two points and three goals to show from their last five games, and there is not much hope for them today, I feel. EXPECT a WIN for KASHIWA REYSOL!

FC Tokyo – GK Gonda, DF/MF Tokunaga and MF Yonemoto are all with the Olympic team. MF Otake is out for the season. DF Jang out for three months. MF Hanyu out for at least another month.
Albirex Niigata – DF Suzuki is with the Olympic team. DF Uchida out for the season. FW Suzuki out for three months.
Seven wins each and two draws over the last decade – all in J1 except for a solitary League Cup home victory for Tokyo in 2010.

FC Tokyo (7th – P18 W9 D1 L8 GD 0 Pts. 28) started well, let their ACL campaign get in the way, then suffered injuries to key players and now have players in London with the Olympic squad to add to the missing! They have lost three of the last four games but know they need to win this one, in front of their own fans, if they are to keep in touch with the top three.
Albirex Niigata (16th – P18 W4 D5 L9 GD -11 Pts. 17) have won two of their last five, all be it against Sapporo (1-0) and S-Pulse (when they scored the only goal of the game despite being under pressure for most of the match) but luck can not side with them all of the time and Tokyo will make the most of the fact that Albirex are also missing a key player to the Olympic squad in Suzuki! EXPECT a WIN for FC TOKYO!

Kashima Antlers – FW Koroki is suspended. DF/MF Yamamura is with the Olympic team. GK Sogahata is doubtful.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – MF Hwang is with Korea’s Olympic team. MFs Yamagishi and Mikic are considered doubtful.
Eight wins for Antlers, six for Sanfrecce including a home win in J1 earlier this season, and three draws over the last decade.

Kashima Antlers (11th – P18 W7 D4 L7 GD +4 Pts. 25) have struggled to find a consistent run this season but have pulled away from the bottom after their terrible start. They have won their last two games by one goal, and drew two before that, but, again, only scored a goal in each game. They will need more than one goal against Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1st – P18 W11 D3 L4 GD +19 Pts. 36) if they are to win this one. Hiroshima hit the top of J1 – all be it on goals scored, having the same goal difference as Vegalta – and will be looking to stay there as we roll into the 2nd half of the season. Players are in form, not least striker Hisashi Sato – J1’s top scorer, and they will roll over Kashima today. EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA.

Vegalta Sendai – MF Sekiguchi is doubtful with a leg injury. DF Kakuda is out for at least a month.
Sagan Tosu – DF Kitani out for at least another month.

13 wins for Sendai, nine for Tosu with two draws. All meetings were in J2 until this year when Sendai won in the League Cup and the team drew at Tosu’s home.

Vegalta Sendai (2nd – P18 W10 D6 L2 GD +19 Pts. 36) have drawn three of their last four games and, consequently, slipped into 2nd position behind Sanfrecce, but are still level on points AND goal difference, only 2nd on goals scored. They should be able to take care of Sagan Tosu (8th – P18 W7 D6 L5 GD +4 Pts. 27) who let four in away to Reds two weeks back, before a narrow home win against FC Tokyo last time out. EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI.

Urawa Reds – MF Naoki Yamada is out for the season, while FW Popo is carrying a longstanding injury and is doubtful.
Jubilo Iwata – FW Yamazaki is with Japan’s Olympic team, FW Baek is with Korea’s Olympic team. GK Kawaguchi is out for the season. FW Kanazono is out for at least another two months. MF Matsuoka is out for the season. MF Yamamoto out for a month.

Reds have won 10, Jubilo seven, and five draws over last decade or so, but Reds have not win since late 2009!

Urawa Reds (3rd – P18 W8 D7 L3 GD +6 Pts. 31) are basking in-form, compared to their last two seasons and can probably only get better as they get even more used to new tactics from coach Petrovic. Their problem is goalscoring, like many teams in J1 this season, and they will be hoping that Genki Haraguchi – dropped from the Olympic team, will be looking to prove a point and become their goalscorer!
Jubilo Iwata (4th – P18 W9 D3 L6 GD +12 Pts. 30) HAVE scored goals – 38 to be exact – but also concede a lot. I think Korean Baek, with the Olympic squad in London will be a big loss – he is the catalyst or scorer of many of their goals since his arrival earlier in the season. EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS.

Consadole Sapporo – DF Kawai and FW Kondo are new additions to a long injury list. FW Maeda is back from injury and should be up for selection.
Nagoya Grampus – FW Nagai is with the Olympic team. FWs Kennedy and Tamada both out. MFs Nakamura and Isomura are both out for at least a month more each.

Only three previous J1 meetings between these teams and Nagoya have won every one!

Consadole Sapporo (18th – P18 W1 D1 L16 GD -31 Pts. 4) just get deeper and deeper into the mire and are headed for J2 without a doubt. Their injury list doesn’t help them but there are imcoming players – are they to stem the tide, or to plan for next season’s J2 campaign?
Nagoya Grampus (6th – P18 W8 D5 L5 GD +2 Pts 29) are missing their three strikers, unless there is a miracle recovery from Kennedy and, while a struggle to score might be a problem against most teams, it should not be a problem against a team that have conceded 42 goals so far this season. EXPECT a WIN for NAGOYA GRAMPUS.

18:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kashiwa Reysol at Outsourcing Stadium

S-Pulse to FINALLY Score That 100th J.League Goal!?

Shimizu S-Pulse – no injuries to report.

Kashiwa Reysol – MF Otani is suspended. Injuries are DF Fujita and two reserve GKs.

Eight wins for Reysol, seven for S-Pulse, and three draws over the last decade. S-Pulse’s last league win was August 2008.

Shimizu S-Pulse (9th – P17 W7 D4 L6 GD +2 Pts. 25) have been trying to score their 1000th J.League goal for an eternity now and have scored just once in their last five games, although gaining three 0-0 draws in that time. They are actively looking for a goalscorer and will consider allowing Alex Brosque to leave to help pay for a new foriegner. Franca will also be encouraged to have a loan period in J2? The team with the best defence in the league needs to score if they are to challenge for the top.

Kashiwa Reysol (7th – P17 W8 D3 L6 GD +6 Pts. 27) were on a great run that saw them move into the upper echelons before being brought down to earth with a home defeat to Nagoya last week. The loss of RB Sakai will be a big one but they have the players to overcome it but I see a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE today!

19:00 Omiya Ardija vs Vissel Kobe at Nack 5 Stadium

Vissel Kobe Rebound with Big Away Win?

Omiya Ardija – MF Hashimoto has Labyrynthitis – out for a month or so.

Vissel Kobe – DF Iwanami is with the Japan U19 team. FW Tashiro is ready to return from injury but not match fit. MF/FW Morioka missed last week’s match but hopes to be fit today.

Six wins for Ardija, five for Vissel and five draws over the last seven years in J1 and the Nabisco Cup.

Omiya Ardija (15th – P17 W5 D4 L8 GD -13 Pts. 19) have disappointed their fans who expected a season without the relegation fight that appears to be looming big right now. Losing Higashi to the London Olympics after this game won’t help either, but new coach Verdenik has the team trying new things and they’ll be hoping for a change in fortune in the second half of the season.

Vissel Kobe (12th – P17 W8 D0 L9 GD -2 Pts. 24) have already settled in under new coach Nishino and outplayed top team Vegalta last weekend and were happy with the performance, if not the result. They are becoming a team and if they perform as they did last time out they will be too much for Ardija. EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

19:00 Albirex Niigata vs Urawa Reds at Tohoku Den Stadium

Urawa Reds March on and Up!

Albirex Niigata – DF Murakami is suspended. DF JS Kim out for two months with a knee injury. MF Nakamura out for three months with bone fracture in foot. MF Uchida out for the season.

Urawa Reds – MF Naoki Yamada out for the season. FWs Escudero and Popo still doubtful.

15 wins for Reds, two for Albirex and three draws over the last decade. Niigata’s wins came in 2005 and 2006.

Albirex Niigata (16th – P17 W4 D4 L9 GD -11 Pts. 16) sneaked a 1-0 win over bottom club Consadole last weekend but are still deep in relegation trouble and suffering from injuries. They will have their hands full against Urawa Reds (3rd – P17 W8 D6 L3 GD +6 Pts. 30) who are on an unbeaten run and sitting poised in 3rd place to take over when Sanfrecce and Vegalta slip up. Reds could use more goals and are actively looking for a goalscorer but, having not been selected for the Olympic squad, perhaps Genki Haraguchi is the man to supply more goals, after getting a couple last weekend. EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

19:00 Jubilo Iwata vs Consadole Sapporo at Yamaha Stadium

How Can Jubilo NOT Win This?

Jubilo Iwata – MF Baek already out with the Korean Olympic squad. MF Matsuoka out for six months with knee ligament damage. GK Kawaguchi out for the season. FW Kanazono out until September.

Consadole Sapporo – MF Kawai out for a month. MF Takagi is out for two months. FW Maeda out until at least August.

In J1 in 2008 these teams shared a win each, and they drew 0-0 on the opening day of this season. Those are their three meetings to date.

Jubilo Iwata (6th – P17 W8 D3 L6 GD +9 Pts. 27) faltered last week and have actually lost three of the last five and have slipped to 6th spot. While they have scored 34 goals, they have also conceded big numbers and really need to shore up the defence if they are to stay in touch with the leaders. Perhaps today is the game where they score a few more and keep a clean sheet?

Consadole Sapporo (18th – P17 W1 D1 L15 GD -28 Pts. 4) have won one game all season. Add a draw to that and they have four points and are heading for the worst J1 team ever award. Against high-scoring Jubilo they can probably expect to ship a few more goals today! EXPECT a WIN for JUBILO IWATA!

19:00 Nagoya Grampus vs Vegalta Sendai at Toyota Stadium

Nagoya to Trouble Sendai!

Nagoya Grampus – DF/MF Danilson is suspended. FW Tamada out for two months after operation. MFs Isomura and Namakura both out for at least another two months each.

Vegalta Sendai – DF Kamata is suspended. DF Uemoto out for another week or two at least.

Four wins for Grampus, two for Vegalta and two draws in just eight meetings between these two teams since 2003.

Nagoya Grampus (4th – P17 W8 D4 L5 GD +2 Pts. 28) have sneaked up to 4th position over the last few weeks and are on an unbeaten run, including putting an end to Reysol’s winning run last weekend. U23 Olympic forward Nagai is on song and banging in goals (and creating, too, see Josh Kennedy’s goal last weekend). In Tamada’s absence Nagai will be missed when he heads for London next week and Grampus will be hoping that they can grab a win this time before they are depleted further.

Vegalta Sendai (1st – P17 W10 D5 L2 GD +19 Pts. 35) have lost just the two games this season and are in a similar position to where they were at this time last season but they were handed a lesson in possession and effort last weekend by Vissel, but still came out with the win. Is that because they are winners and are going to keep winning, even when they play badly or are they going to slip away, as they did last season. I believe the latter … EXPECT a WIN for NAGOYA GRAMPUS.

19:00 Gamba Osaka vs Yokohama F.Marinos at Banpaku

Gamba – the Revival MUST Start Soon!

Gamba Osaka – FW Leandro is eligible to start. FW Kawanishi back in training after broken leg. DFs Kaji and Eduardo still missing. GK Kimura out with a broken leg. DF Nakazawa broke a leg in training, out for two months. FW Paulinho has a thigh injury.

Yokohama F. Marinos – MF Nakamura out for two more weeks? DF Dutra and FW Marquinhos are both under treatment and await news on fitness. DF Amano out for the season. MF Ogura almost ready to return.

Ten wins for Marinos, eight for Gamba, and seven draws over the last decade.

Gamba Osaka (17th – P17 W3 D4 L12 GD -12 Pts. 13) are in dire straits and must start winning soon. They’ve put in good performances and had teams on the run in many games yet don’t have the points to show for it. It’s a matter of confidence and finishing, but if they don’t get a win VERY soon then they are J2-bound! Will the incoming Leandro make the difference up front. Meanwhile, in defence, keeper Kimura AND centre back Nakazawa have both broken legs in the last weeks, while various defenders are out injured. It’s not just up front they need to change!

Yokohama F.Marinos (11th – P17 W5 D9 L3 GD +3 Pts. 24) have scored nine goals less than struggling Gamba and are having problems of their own but at least have improved after their terrible start saw then struggling near the bottom. They have injury problems of their won, as well as the problem scoring and will struggle to keep Gamba at bay if the home team play like they have done in recent games, BUT, Gamba must keep a clean sheet, too. I think they can win this one, EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA.

19:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Kashima Antlers at Nagai Stadium

Cerezo to Slip Further Into Trouble?

Cerezo Osaka – MF Kim is already with the Korea Olympic squad.

Kashima Antlers – No injuries to report.

Seven wins for Cerezo, five for Antlers and three draws over the last decade.

Cerezo Osaka (14th – P17 W5 D4 L8 GD -4 Pts. 19) will now have to start getting used to life afer Kiyotake, but are used to it by now, after losing Kagawa, Inui and Ienaga in quick succession. They may well lose Kim, Ogihara and even Kakitani before long, also, and so struggle to be consistent and, apart from the transfer rumours mentioned will be without Ogihara and Yamaguchi for the duration of the Olympics, too, so NEED a win here to stave off the rot that has set in as they drop down the division.

Kashima Antlers (13th – P17 W6 D4 L7 GD +3 Pts. 22) managed a narrow win against Omiya last weekend but are strugglimg to put wins together and continue to hang around the lower reaches of the table. While the player himself will be disappointed, the snubbing of forward Osako by the Olympic squad selectors means that they have a player who is angry, hungry and wants to prove something. Osako will be dangerous for Osaka! EXPECT a DRAW!

19:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kawasaki Frontale at Hiroshima Big Arch

Sanfrecce Heading For the Top!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima – the team await news on Mikic who was injured in the last game. DF Hwang already away with the Korean Olympic squad.

Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Jeci and Komiyama are back in training but not match fit. DF Ito out for two weeks or so. MF Noborizato out until August.

12 wins for Frontale, just two for Sanfrecce and eight draws over the years, but one of those Sanfrecce wins came away this season!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (2nd – P17 W10 D3 L4 GD +16 Pts. 33) dispatched 3rd placed Jubilo Iwata with ease last time out, while Sendai struggled at Vissel and Sanfrecce will be hoping for another win, while awaiting the top team to slip up. Sanfrecce are the team that look hungry and are now many people’s tip for the top as the second half of the season comes around … they have goalscorers all over the field, as well as the J1 top scorer in Hisashi Sato. Expect goals.

Kawasaki Frontale (8th – P17 W8 D3 L6 GD 0 Pts. 27) have had their ups and downs but are certainly a different team under coach Kazama… they concede too many goals, but have had defensive injuries to disrupt plans. If they can stop conceding goals they can stick around the top six, but probably not much better this season. EXPECT a WIN for SANFECCE HIROSHIMA!

19:00 Sagan Tosu vs FC Tokyo at Best Amenity Stadium

A Draw on the Cards?!

Sagan Tosu – DF Kitani out until September. MF Takahashi approaching fitness, may be available for this game.

FC Tokyo – DF Jang is already with the Korean Olympic squad. MF Hanyu out for at least a month, MF Otake out for the season, DF Ota out for at least another month, DF Hiramatsu expecting long time off with Achilles injury. MF Kajiyama out until early August. MF Ishikawa very doubtful.

Two wins for Tokyo, and one draw in three meetings between these two teams. Two in J2 last year, one win for FC Tokyo this season.

Sagan Tosu (10th – P17 W6 D6 L5 GD +3 Pts. 24) have an excellent home record which will give them the confidence to think they can take out the visitors today and they will take additional strength from their great defensive record, even though it was tainted by conceding four goals in the rain at Urawa last weekend, although, 4-0 down with less than half an hour to go last week, they pulled it back to 4-3 and won’t be too disappointed with their 2nd half performance coming into this game.

FC Tokyo (5th – P17 W9 D1 L7 GD +1 Pts. 27) find themselves in 5th spot after holding off a rampant Gamba Osaka last week to take all three points. Winning when they aren’t playing well, and while suffering a glut of injuries will give them heart, but, adding to those injuries they will lose players to the Olympics after this weekend so many expect them to drop down the table over the next month or so. They’ll fight for the win here but I think we can EXPECT a DRAW!