Jubilo Iwata – GK Kawaguchi is out long term with an Achilles tendon injury.

Five of the last seven matches between these two teams have ended in a draw. Over the last decade, Jubilo have registered seven wins, to Niigata’s four, with six draws.

Albirex Niigata (P11 W2 D3 L6 GD -5) have had the terrible start that many pundits – myself included – predicted and I can’t see it getting better for them. The loss of Cho Young Cheol and Marcio Richardes was a big blow to the team, and the fans. The returning Kisho Yano and Gamba loanee Shoki Hirai have not really come up with the goods and Albirex will struggle more as the season progresses.

Jubilo Iwata (P11 W5 D3 L3 GD +4) started well, but I tipped them to be a mid-table team and I am sticking to that. Having said that, they should have no trouble in finding three points today and keeping their position challenging for an ACL place and a win today will perhaps add to that false hope that they can be a force this season. FW Maeda has to get among the goals more, although, new Korean FW Baek has been picking up the slack and might be the missing link that Jubilo have been searching for since the departure of Lee Keun Ho to Gamba. EXPECT a WIN for JUBILO IWATA!