17:30 Kashiwa Reysol vs Vissel Kobe at Kashiwa – VIssel to Hold Back Resyol Tide?

Team News
Kashiwa Reysol – MF Kurisawa is suspended. MF Mizuno will probably miss the last two games.
VIssel Kobe – GK Tokushige is still doubtful, FW Yoshida undergoing tests, DF Hayashi out for the season. FW Tokura is suspended.

Head to Head – 9 wins each, and just 2 draws in 20 meetings in J1 (and a J2 season in 2006) since 2003.

Match Preview – a match with it all the play for. Kashiwa Reysol seem to have the very influential Leandro Domingues back and fit, just in time for a push for that 3rd spot, the ACL place for 2013. They won’t have any problem overcoming their injuries with their deep squad and they’re in decent form after an away win at Marinos. I have said it before, but their forwards are doing the job – Kudo, Tanaka, Sawa are all in reasonable form, so hopefully, for the team’s sake, Neto Baiano won’t get a look-in!

Vissel Kobe, on the other hand, will miss Tokura, who has been among the goals recently, and are under severe pressure to win or face a final day fight against Sanfrecce Hiroshima to stay in J1. Having said that, with the current form of Ardija and Gamba, a win here might still leave them needing another win on the final day anyway! They won for the first time since August last week, in interim coach Adachi’s first match in charge since Akira Nishino was fired and that new coach adrenalin effect may still be in force today! It will be a tough match but Vissel have more to lose and I think we can EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

17:30 Kawasaki Frontale vs Shimizu S-Pulse at Todoroki – S-Pulse to Come Back from Losses!

Team News
Kawasaki Frontale – DF Jeci is injured again, along with DF Komiyama. DF Morishita is back from injury but not match fit, no suspensions.
Shimizu S-Pulse – MF Hattanda is doubtful, no suspensions.

Head to Head – 7 wins for Shimizu S-Pulse, 3 for Kawasaki Frontale and 3 draws since 2005 in 13 J1 meetings.

Match Preview – Kawasaki Frontale made their J1 place safe last weekend with a last gasp away win by the single goal at Niigata, probably condemning their opponents to relegation at the same time. Combined with a 4-2 win over Reds the week before, they have relaxed at last, and Renato is back on form – a hat trick against Reds – depending on results around them they could be looking at a top 6 finish after all, if they win their final two games. I feel that would be a false position, though, and the the team really need to look at some of the choices made by coach Kazama. If Renato is in the same form as against Reds they could score a goal or two!

Shimizu S-Pulse have had a roller coaster season. At one point in 2nd spot with the top in sight, they went on a winless, even goalless streak and plummeted down J1. They then recovered and as close as three games ago had faint Championship hopes, but certainly a hand on an ACL place. Two straight defeats in J1 (and the Nabisco Cup FInal loss) have knocked them back and they will have a confidence problem, perhaps. They are a young team and it will be important to get a win or two in these final games to help them bounce back and be ready for a new season of what the fans will hope is a successful one. The groundwork is there, a couple more defeats could kill that off, so the experience of coach Ghotbi and his older heads will not want to lose this one, even if a win will not get them that 3rd place it will mean a lot in the long run, I feel. EXPECT a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

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14:30 Vegalta Sendai vs Albirex Niigata at Yurtec – Sendai to send Albirex to J2?

Team News
Vegalta Sendai – MF Tamura is suspended. DF Uemoto is a long-term injury absentee.
Albirex Niigata – DF Murakami is suspended. GK HIgashiguchi and MF Uchida are out for the season, and more. Reserve GK Watanabe also out until next season at least!

Head to Head – 2 wins for Vegalta Sendai, 1 for Albirex Niigata, and 3 draws over six meetings since 2010 in J1 and the Nabisco Cup.

Match Preview – down to two games to go and everything to play for, for both of these teams today. A loss for Albirex Niigata will condemn them to relegation, while a loss for Vegalta Sendai may well give the title to Sanfrecce, depending on results on the day. It is no exaggeration to say that this game is vital at both ends of the table.
Vegalta have proved they can do without missing players, utilizing the depth they have and should not miss Tamura, especially if Sekiguchi is fit and raring to go. Albirex, on the other hand, have struggled to score goals andhave little choice up front to change it at this stage. The defence has been strong, considering their position, although goalkeeper injuries will not help them at this late stage. Even a win for Albirex guarantees nothing in regards to safety so an early goal will be key to boostng their confidence, if they score, or deflating it completely if they concede. EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI!

14:30 Nagoya Grampus vs Kashima Antlers at Toyota – Nagoya to Push Kashima Down into trouble!

Team News
Nagoya Grampus – DF Abe, FW Kennedy out injured, no suspensions.
Kashima Antlers – MF Ogasawara is suspended. MF/DF Yamamura is still out injured but back in training.

Head to Head – 14 wins for Kashima Antlers, 8 for Nagoya Grampus and just 2 draws in 24 meetings since 2003.

Match Preview – Kashima Antlers still need a point or two for safety, and, in fact, if they lose both of their final games and results elsewhere go against them, they could be in for a season in J2, so the Nabisco Cup winners have everything to play and may feel that pressure. The influential Ogasawa will be missed and his de facto replacement for the future, Yamamura is still out, also. An inconsistent midfield today?
Nagoya Grampus are another team with a lot to play for ad are in a good position to claim an ACL place for 2013, after such an inconsistent season. They will not ease off, in fact, will take pleasure in inflicting possible serious damage on perennial rivals. The WILL miss Kennedy up front but Nagai, Tamada and Kanazaki are more than a handful, if on form, and Tulio always seems to to come up with a goal at the right time! EXPECT a WIN for NAGOYA GRAMPUS!

14:30 Gamba Osaka vs FC Tokyo at Expo’70 – Gamba to Steamroller Tokyo!

Team News
Gamba Osaka – GK Kimura is back in training after a broken leg. DF Nakazawa and FW Kawanishi both back and fit, also after broken legs! DF Kaji out for the season. DF Iwashita is suspended.
FC Tokyo – after an injury hit season DF Hiramatsu and MF Otake – both long-term absentees are the the only two reported missing this week, no suspensions.

Head to Head – 7 wins for FC Tokyo, 6 for Gamba Osaka, and 4 draws – all in J1 – since 2003.

Match Preview – one of the games where just one team has anything left to play for . . . FC Tokyo are safe. but have missed their slim chance of CL qualification and went down to issel Kobe last week in a rain-affected farce and won’t be too motivated for this game. The fans will take e opportunity to have a go at Konno, who left them for Gamba but the players may find it hard to get too excited about this one?
Gamba Osaka are in a must-win situation, still in a relegation spot despite decent fecent form. Ardija and Vissel also won last week, when Gamba took out S-Pulse away, so it was a case of no change aroud. Gamba BUT the teams immediately above ose three winners all lost and now Cerezo, Antlers and even Jubilo are still in mathematical danger of going down, so Gamba Osaka will be buoyed by that, as if they needed any motivation. If Leandro acores another goal or two in this game and the next, and Gamba do stay up, surely the Brazilian striker is in with a shot at the MVP award? EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

14:30 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Cerezo Osaka at Hiroshima Big Arch – Hiroshima March On!

Team News
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – NO injuries reported by Sanfrecce, DF Chiba and MF Mikic are suspended.
Cerezo Osaka – Reporting injuries to MFs Yoshino and Maruhashi. FW Bando is suspended.

Head to Head – 6 wins apiece and 3 draws over a decade of meetings.

Match Preview – Sanfrecce Hiroshima know that a win could well give them the Championship with a game to spare, depending on the result at Vegalta and will be going all out to get that win in the hope that they don’t need to win on the final day (against Vissel Kobe, away, who are experts at saving themselves on the final day!). Sato will be gunning for the title of J1’s top goalscorer (and he has gone through the season without a single yellow card, too!) but will be without Mikic supplying the ammunition. There should still be enough talent in the Sanfrecce team to overcome an inconsistent Cerezo.

Cerezo Osaka capitulated last week and, indeed, have not won in four matches, although they have managed three draws. The team have confirmed that coach Culpi has accepted their offer and will be at the reins next season, even though he originally had to be dragged back after leaving once for a well-deserved break from football! Ironically, after the team’s good form convinced them to make the offer, now Cerezo find themselves still in need of some points to ensure safety and could still go down. Will they believe that scenario is possible and take this game seriously? One would hope so, but their inconsistency will tell and we can EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

14:30 Sagan Tosu vs Urawa Reds at Best Amenity – Tosu to Punish Reds Profligacy?

Team News
Sagan Tosu – MF Yeo out injured for the season, no suspensions.
Urawa Reds – DF Makino is suspended. DF Mizuta and MF Kashiwagi are doubtful, MF Naoki Yamada is in training but not match fit after six months out.

Head to Head – Reds won their league game this season, away, while Tosu won the Nabisco Cup match – the only two times these teams have ever met.

Match Preview – Sagan Tosu surprised all the critics with a fine start to their maiden J1 season but it looked as if the bubble had finally burst last month when they started to drift down the table. But they have confounded us all again with three wins in a row just when we thought they’d end up as mid-table also-rans on December 2nd. Those three winds, nine points have given them impetus going into the final two games and they are within two points of Urawa and Nagoya, with a better goal difference. Whatever happens in the next two matches, the fans will be happy and the club can look forward to a bright 2nd season in the top flight.

If Toyoda is firing on all cylinders and takes the chances created, and the home defence of Tosu is as strong as it has been, it will be tough for Urawa Reds who have dropped points all over during the last month and more. They no longer have a chance of the Championship and no their 3rd place – and a place in the ACL in 2013 – is under threat from Nagoya, Reysol and today’s opponents. It is the epitome of must-win for Reds, or they could see themselves dropping to 6th if results go against them elsewhere. But I don’t see any improvement up front (major signing needed for 2013) and EXPECT a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!

17:30 Consadole Sapporo vs Yokohama F.Marinos at Sapporo Dome – Surely Not Another Draw for Marinos?

Team News
Consadole Sapporo – DF KIm and FW Uchimura are suspended. DF Osanai is a new injury victim.
Yokohama F.Marinos – MF Tomisawa is suspended. No new injuries reported, MF Ogura is back in training.

Head to Head – 3 J1 wins for Yokohama F.Marinos, 1 Nabisco Cup win (in 2012) for Consadole Sapporo in four meetings in 2008 J1 and 2012 only.

Match Preview – Consadole Sapporo got a win the game after they were confirmed relegated, as if a sense of relief had allowed them to relax, but it didn’t last long and they are back as whipping boys, having shipped 11 goals in their last three defeats. They have now conceded 82 goals , or more than 2.5 per game and are earning the title of worst-ever J1 team. I can’t see them getting anything out of Yokohama F.Marinos, although the away team now have nothing left to play for after defeat by Kashiwa Reysol last time out left them out of the ACL running. Marinos have the equal best defence in the league (along with Sanfrecce and, surprisingly, Albirex!) but have trouble scoring . . . if Marquinhos get a few chances he’ll bury one, but Oguro and Yuji Ono are off-form and Marinos are suffering for it. Dare I say EXPECT a DRAW!?

17:30 Omiya Ardija vs Jubilo Iwata at NACK 5 – Jubilo to Get the Point They Need?

Team News
No injuries or suspensions reported for Omiya Ardija.
Jubilo Iwata still missing MF Matsuoka, and MF Baek reported as recovered but still doubtful to start.

Head to Head – 9 wins for Jubilo Iwata, 5 for Omiya Ardija, and 4 draws since 2005.

Match Preview – Omiya Ardija are unbeaten since late August, when they went down to Sendai, and the impressive run has come at just the right time to go some way to pulling them clear of relegation but there is still hard work ahead if they are to survive in J1. Away wins at Cerezo and Reysol recently, in between some creditable draws have kept pace with Gamba’s efforts, while pulling them away from Albirex in 17th place. Omiya’s fine form has dragged Vissel, Kashima and Cerezo into the dogfight and even Jubilo, today’s opponents, are not mathematically safe from relegation and need another point to be sure.

With a superior goal difference to most teams below them, Jubilo Iwata know that a single point from two games is enough for safety and they are also aware that they are completely out of the ACL reckoning now. I have a feeling that they will play for the draw and frustrate Ardija’s attack. At this stage of the season, Ardija might settle for a draw, also and while the likes of Cho and Higashi misfire, after promising so much, a draw is all they might expect. If Baek is still not fit for Jubilo they will be missing a midfield spark but if Maeda gets chance, especially on his head, he’ll bury it, and Ardija! EXPECT a DRAW!