Team News – Jubilo Iwata – FW Yamazaki is suspended. FW Maeda is still doubtful. They are still missing MFs Matsuoka and Baek, too.
Vegalta Sendai – DF/MF Kakuda is suspended. No injuries reported.

Head to Head – Four wins for Jubilo, three for Vegalta and seven draws over the last decade.

Match Preview – Jubilo Iwata have lost their last three as they go into freefall, dropping to 8th, albeit just 3 points off 4th spot. Anything can still happen in J1 in five games but Jubilo have got into a losing habit and I can’t see them breaking that any time soon. The influence of Baek has been missed in the creative department and, with Maeda doubtful, too, the scoring part of the team is under pressure, also. Expect a crisis of confidence in their final games, knowing that their title hopes have long gone now.

Vaegalta Sendai have lost two of their last five, while Sanfrecce above them have dropped just one less point and Reds below them have lost three in that time. So, the team’s fate is really in their own hands and, even at this stage of the season, most followers are expecting them to crack up and give it away… will this mean less pressure? Would they realy settle for 2nd position after this long? I don’t think so. It seems they have been through their bad patch and come out still (almost) on top. EXPECT a DRAW today, but it will still be enough to keep them in at least 2nd place.