Nagoya Grampus – MF Ogawa is suspended. MF Isomura is expected to be out for the season.

Sendai won away last season, while their home tie was drawn… over the decade there have been just seven meetings with Sendai winning just that one time last season, with two draws and four wins for Nagoya.

Vegalta Sendai (P11 W7 D3 L1 GD +12) still sit atop the J.League despite a defeat – ending their unbeaten start – by S-Pulse and a draw at Gamba Osaka last week. Have the wheels fallen off the cart earlier this season. After a final run-in last season that saw them drop down the table, the “collapse” might be coming sooner this season? Of course, everyone thought that Reysol couldn’t do it last year, so, will Vegalta surprise us all and stay at the top this time? If they want to win the league there games against other possible contenders are the games they MUST win. Star goalscoring forward Akamine is back (and indeed, scored the equalising goal at Gamba last week) and Sekiguchi will be looking for more goals, too.

Nagoya Grampus (P10 W5 D2 L3 GD +3) are sitting in 8th on 17 points after an inconsistent start to the campaign. They are being discussed as struggling, in crisis, but, if they won their game in hand they’d be in 3rd place! So nothing to worry about too much yet, for Nagoya, I feel. A couple of wins and they’ll be THE team to beat again, although the physical presence of Tulio at the back may be being undermined by his lack of speed and technical play as he gets, well, older! FW Nagai can blossom with more time on the field, but will have to fight for it with Kennedy, when fit, and Tamada. Nice to have so much choice, though! EXPECT a WIN for NAGOYA GRAMPUS!