Team News
Sagan Tosu – MFs Fujita and Kim are suspended. DF Yeo will be out for the rest of the season.
Jubilo Iwata – Still missing MFs Matsuoka and Baek, long term injuries.
Head to Head – One win each in only two historical meetings between these two clubs… Jubilo won the J1 encounter in this season, Tosu won in the Nabisco Cup.
Match Preview Both teams have little left to play for and the home team will be OK with that. Sagan Tosu, in their first season in the top flight, surprised many, including themselves, perhaps and were riding a wave for quite a while. Three losses in their last five matches have seen them drop away from that dream of an ACL spot, although still only five points off it – very much possible, in theory! Jubilo Iwata, on the other hand have not won in their last five, two draws and three losses have seen them plummet to 10th although, with the division so close in the middle, they are still only six points of 3rd and nothing is impossible in J1. A weak start, for me, was improved when they signed Baek and an injury to that player saw them lose form again – what an influence he has been.
Talking of influences, though, Sagan will also be missing an influential Korean in Kim and could suffer through that. With Fujita out too, their attack may suffer, although their home defensive performances have been excellent and that should not change today. Just 33 goals conceded all season means they are always in with a chance of a draw or a low-scoring win. I think today we will see a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!