Team News
Kashiwa Reysol – DF Masushima is suspended. MF Leandro Domingues is undergoing treatment and will need a fitness test.
Kawasaki Frontale – GK Nishibe, DF Morishita, MF Inamoto and FW Kobayashi all reporting as injured.

Head to Head – In 13 J1 or Nabisco Cup meetings since 2005 Frontale have 6 wins to Reysol’s 4, with 3 draws.

Match Preview – Kashiwa Reysol have won just one of their last five and now sit 9 points adrift of 3rd place, 14 off the top, and look to have blown their chances of even an ACL-qualifying finish this season. With Leandro Domingues doubtful, and the recent arrival of Brazilian forward Neto Baiano dividing fans (and the team?) they will find it hard to break out of their slump but, who better to do it against than a very average Kawasaki Frontale? A narrow win against bottom club Consadole and a fortunate win against FC Tokyo two games back mask the fact that this is a team in trouble. They are probably only one win from safety, perhaps only needed 5 or 6 points from their final 7 games to make sure of J1 status next season, but the can’t seem to relax. As I’ve noted before, coach Kazama’s tactics will be looked at very carefully come the end of the season and whether he will still have a job for 2013 remains to be seen. EXPECT a DULL DRAW here today!?