Sanfrecce Hiroshima – MF Yamagishi was announced as ill on July 2nd and must be doubtful.
Jubilo Iwata – MF Baek has joined the Korean Olympic team already. GK Kawaguchi out for the season. FW Kanazono out until September.

Nine wins for Jubilo, five for Sanfrecce and three draws over the last decade – all in J1, or the Nabisco Cup. Jubilo have already narrowly beaten their opponents in the Nabisco Cup this season.

Jubilo Iwata (3rd P16 W8 D3 L5 GD +11) ended a losing run of two games with a win over FC Tokyo last weekend and sit three points behind their rivals today. a 2-0 win will put them in 2nd spot, while a defeat will leave them six points behind Sanfrecce. Baek will be a big loss to the Korean Olympic team, possibly one of the biggest losses in J1 to that competition, but Jubilo have scored 34 goals – the best in the division and hope that one man does not make a team!
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (2nd P16 W9 D3 L4 GD +14 Pts. 30) have manged to waste their chance of going top over the last two games. When Sendai drew their last two games, so did Sanfrecce, but before that they were on a winning run, and hope to get get back to that and, if Vissel Kobe can beat Sendai, Sanfrecce will go top with a win here. Expect a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

Vissel Kobe – MF/FW Ogawa is expected to be out while tests are done on a Pulmonary Contusion. DF Iwanami is with the Japan U19 team. MF Hashimoto may be considered ready for return. FW Tashiro is doubtful but may return from injury.
Vegalta Sendai – DF Uemoto is out for another two weeks or so.

Four wins for Vegalta, three wins for Vissel, and four draws – four of those games in J2 in 2006.


While Vegalta Sendai (1st P16 W9 D5 L2 GD +18 Pts. 32) feel the pressure at the top and their results suffer – one win in four, and that against lowly Sapporo, the teams below them have, luckily for Vegalta, also dropped points left and right, which has, of course squeezed the table – only 3 points between 3rd and 11th, where we find Vissel Kobe. The away team are in good shape, despite the lack of wins recently, with Brazilian striker Wilson hitting his stride. He may be a handful for the Vissel defence.
Vissel Kobe (11th P16 W8 D0 L8 GD -1 Pts. 24) sit “only” 3 points off a top three position and have won their last three games under new coach Akira Nishino. They may well be missing wing wonder Ogawa with a badly bruised chest, which would be a blow. but they are coming together as a team and the squad has depth. They have beaten Jubilo and Frontale (both away) in recent games and will not fear the top team. EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!


Yokohama F.Marinos – MF Nakamura out for two more weeks. DF Amano out for the season. MF Ogura out for another two weeks or so.
Cerezo Osaka – MF Kiyotake moved to FC Nuremberg. MF Kim has joined the Korean Olympic team already.

Six wins for Marinos, two for Cerezo, and four draws since 2003.


Just two goals in their last five games, but unbeaten in that time, Yokohama F.Marinos (12th P16 W5 D8 L3 GD +3 Pts. 23) had a terrible start to the season, then a mini-revival and, I suppose an unbeaten run should not be ignored, but they are lacking goals in a big way. Thankfully, they have conceded only 13 – the best record in the division with Sagan – but if they don’t start scoring they will continue to struggle to pull away from the relegation zone.
Cerezo Osaka have had the most inconsistent season, although now they are showing some steadiness, unfortunately in the defeats or draws area! With Kiyotake moving on, Kim already away for the Olympics (and then strongly rumoured to be moving to Europe, also) and the loss of Ogihara and Yamaguchi to London from next week, they NEED a win today, because there won’t be many more points coming their way in the coming month or two, in my opinion. If Cerezo lose this they will be sucked into the relegation battle. EXPECT a DRAW!


Kashiwa Reysol – DF Hiroki Sakai moved to Germany. Injuries are just two reserve GKs.
Nagoya Grampus – FW Tamada out for two months after operation. MFs Isomura and Namakura both out for at least another two months each. GK Narazaki had a minor operation on the knee but the team hope he will be back for this game.

Six wins for Grampus, four for Reysol and four draws over the last decade. The last win for Grampus was away in 2009.

While Grampus have shown inconsistency recently, Kashiwa Reysol (4th P16 W8 D3 L5 GD +7 Pts. 27) are on a winning streak (apart from a recent draw against Kashima Antlers) that has brought them from the basement to the big boys. Just three points off the top after a dire start must have the other teams around them concerned! Last weekend they put six past Gamba Osaka – from just ten goal attempts, efficient indeed!
Nagoya Grampus (7th P16 W7 D4 L5 GD +1 Pts. 25) have drawn their last two games, and lost to Cerezo Osaka recently and, although only two points behind Reysol woulld appear to be under pressure to perform. They will lose Nagai to the LOndon Olympics after this weekend – he has scored freely in the last month – and he will be a big loss. They need three points here to stop the rot that might set in.
Expect a DRAW!


FC Tokyo – 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.

Gamba Osaka – FW Leandro is eligible to start. MF Sasaki back in training. FW Kawanishi back in easy training after broken leg. DFs Kaji and Eduardo still missing. GK Kimura out with a broken leg. Gamba Osaka – DF Nakazawa broke his leg in training July 4th, will be out for at least 3 months.

It’s three years since Tokyo got a win over Gamba but it’s pretty equal over a decade with six wins each and four draws.
Match Preview
One win and one draw (and three losses) for each team in their last five games. Both teams are hit by injuries, but Gamba may have the edge – or at least the adrenalin flowing – with the return of Leandro to their ranks… FC Tokyo (8th P16 W8 D1 L7 GD 0 Pts. 25) are just seven points off the top, but, on the other hand, also seven points away from 15th spot. They have scored seven goals less than their much lower rivals, with just 18 in their 16 games and are struggling to keep in touch with the top three place they should really be aiming for.
Gamba Osaka (16th P16 W3 D4 L9 GD -11 Pts. 13) probably started the season aiming for a top three spot, also, but, for now, would be happy with pulling away from the relegation places. Many changes, both forced, and unforced, from the top (Akira Nishino, manager, resigned) to the team have seem them struggle in the rebuilding process. A win today would go a long way to renewing confidence. A late goal conceded would not be unexpected, but has to stop! Expect a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!


Kashima Antlers – DF Iwamasa is suspended.
Omiya Ardija – MF Hashimoto has Labyrynthitis – our for a month or so.

Kashima Antlers are 10 games to 1 in wins in this fixture, with four draws since 2005. Omiya’s single win came in 2009 at home.


Two draws and a loss (to Grampus) is the recent record for Kashima Antlers (13th – P16 W5 D4 L7 GD +2 Pts. 19) who had a terrible start, then saw something of a revival that had hopes rising, before settling into the lower mid-table at mid-season. Their fans will demand more and they have the players for the high expectations, they just need to become a team again.
Omiya Ardija (14th P16 W5 D4 L7 GD -12 Pts. 19) have the same record (apart from goal difference) as their opponents today, who have won and drawn their last two games aftter being taken over by a new coach. Perhaps the new coach effect will have dissipated by today but, if he has them playing as the sum of their parts, they may give Antlers a hard time, but there is a lot of work to do. EXPECT a DRAW today!


Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Iwashita and MF Kobayashi were short-term injury victims, but both in training again.
Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Jeci and Komiyama are back in training but not match fit. MF Noborizato out until August.

Seven wins for S-Pulse, three for Frontale and four draws since 2005, all in J1.

Shimizu S-Pulse (10th – P16 W7 D3 L6 GD +2 Pts. 24) are in a slump, after being in a position to take over top spot around a month ago, they now sit in 10th, all be it within three points of equal 3rd place. Conceding only 14 goals all season is impressive, but scoring only 16 negates the excellent defending. Only one goal in the last five games needs to be looked at. A goal for S-Pulse will be theior 100th J1 goal in their 20th Anniversary week.
Kawasaki Frontale (6th – P16 W8 D2 L6 GD 0 Pts. 26) lost at home to Vissel last time out and before that drew 0-0 with Marinos, so something of a mini-slump for them, also. They have scored 22 goals, but conceded the same and need to do better at both ends of the table. EXPECT a 20th ANNIVERSARY win (and their J.League 1000th goal) for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!


Urawa Reds – MF Naoki Yamada out for the season. DF Spiranovic is said to be leaving the club, certainly no longer in the manager’s plans. FWs Escudero and Popo still doubtful.
Sagan Tosu – DF Kitani out until September. MF Takahashi approaching fitness, but not for this game.

These teams have only met once before, in the Nabisco Cup this year, when Sagan Tosu won. This will be the first J.League meeting between the teams.

Urawa Reds (5th – P16 W7 D6 L3 GD +5 Pts. 27) have won just one of their last four games – a fortunate win over Gamba Osaka – registering draws against Tokyo, Cerezo and Vegalta in that time. Even with that faltering record they remain just five points off top spot and will want to take advantage of the teams above them dropping points. They have scored just 20 goals all season and the common belief is that, if they had a strong striker they would be clear at the top by now!
Sagan Tosu (9th – P16 W6 D6 L4 GD +4 Pts. 24) are just three points back from Reds but the cracks are starting to show in their so far impressive J1 debut campaign. A win here would boost their confidence no end and give them the boost that they need to allow them to think that they can keep it up. A loss would perhaps begin their slide into the lower reaches. Two wins in five in recent games, those wins being against Consadole and Gamba. EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!


Consadole Sapporo – DF Jade North is suspended. MF Takagi is out for two months. FW Maeda out until at least August.
Albirex Niigata – 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.

Four wins for Albirex, two for Consadole and a draw in seven meetings. Four meetings were in J2 in 2003. The last three meetings, this year in the Nabisco Cup and two in J1 in 2008 were all won by Albirex.

Just one win all season so far for Consadole Sapporo (18th – P16 W1 D1 L14 GD -27 Pts. 4), this must be their biggest chance to get another win and to have any hope of a comeback – the team closest to them! Having scored just 10 goals so far, and conceded 37, though, perhaps a draw is as good as it will get for the bottom team?
Albirex Niigata (17th – P16 W3 D4 L9 GD -12 Pts. 13) drew last time out and managed a win against S-Pulse in new coach Yanagishita’s first game in charge – but lost to Vissel Kobe in between those bright spots. They will see this as a big chance to add another three points and out the pressure on Gamba Osaka. But Sapporo might pull out all the stops – expect a DRAW!