Shimizu S-Pulse – the team released CB Iwashita on loan to Gamba Osaka. MF Muramatsu is with the Olympic team.

Nagoya Grampus – FW Nagai is with the Olympic team. FWs Kennedy and Tamada both out. MF Isomura out for at least a month more.
8 wins for Nagoya, 7 for Shimizu, and 6 draws over the last decade, all in J1 or the Nabisco Cup, of course – neither team ever having been relegated.Nagoya Grampus were missing striker Nagai to the London Olympics. Combine that with injuries to Tamada and Kennedy and manager Dragan Stojkovic was forced to play centre back Tulio upfront. He repaid his manager’s faith with four goals against Vissel Kobe last week! He will be a handful for Calvin Jong-a-Pin and his S-Pulse defensive partners if Grampus choose to keep Tulio upfront for this contest. Prior to last week’s goal-fest Grampus had scored four in four games, including a loss to Consadole and so they will be looking to build on that win and make a push for the top three over the next few games.

Meanwhile, Shimizu S-Pulse have put in good performances but lost games because they are not scoring. Early season the likes of Omae and Takagi were putting the chances away, then the goals dried up and the chase for the 100th goal of their history seemed to make it hard for them. On the other hand, there are times when they are winning games when a player (or even two) short – talk about inconsistency. 21 goals in 20 games, and “only” 23 conceded in that time (five of which were when they went down to nine men against Reysol) means a low-scoring draw is probably expected here but I feel S-Pulse may well have turned the corner and I think we can EXPECT a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!