Two teams at opposite ends of the J1 League table will meet on Saturday as 16th-placed Jubilo Iwata play hosts to Cerezo Osaka, who currently sit sixth in the division.
The visitors are in the midst of a four-match unbeaten run in the league, while the home side have failed to win in as many games in all competitions.
Match preview
© Imago
Jubilo Iwata will be focusing on trying to increase their gap above the relegation zone this weekend to try and push themselves away from trouble.
The club currently sit just five points above the drop zone after the opening 18 matches, but considering Sagan Tosu boasts a game in hand over them, there is pressure on each fixture at the moment.
The main problem for Akinobu Yokouchi's men so far this season has been consistency, with five wins, four draws and nine defeats, but the team have picked up more victories at home.
Despite the fact Jubilo Iwata have picked up more points at home, scoring goals in those matches has been an issue, averaging just one goal per game at Yamaha Stadium.
Yokouchi's squad did pick up a point in their last outing against a team in the top half, which was a result that will have disappointed them due to the fact they conceded an 84th-minute equaliser.
The visitors head into the game in much stronger form, having put together a four-match unbeaten run in the J1 League throughout their most recent performances.
Those results have allowed Cerezo to climb into sixth place in the table, and a victory could see them move one position higher depending on other results this weekend.
Three points on Saturday would also help the club to put pressure on those in the top three positions, which is still an achievable aim for the club.
Goals from Lucas Fernandes and Hayato Okuda secured Cerezo's 2-1 win against Urawa Reds during their most recent outing, and a repeat result would be welcomed this time out.
Despite that, three of their four defeats this season have taken place on the road, and focusing on improving their away form will be important for the remainder of the campaign.
Team News
Ryo Germain is out of action at the moment for the hosts due to a fractured frontal bone, and that is expected to keep him out for the foreseeable future.
Elsewhere, it could be an unchanged team that starts this weekend following a positive performance overall during their last outing, despite conceding a late equaliser.
Leo Ceara will be expected to lead the line for the visitors this weekend as the talisman attempts to add to his current goal tally of 13.
Fernandes should provide width on one side of the pitch with Capixaba on the other flank, giving Cerezo plenty of attacking options this weekend.
Jubilo Iwata possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Uemura, Suzuki, Graca, Matsubara; Uehara, Gomes; Hirakawa, Yamada, Matsumoto; Peixoto
Cerezo Osaka possible starting lineup:
Kim; Okuda, Nishio, Toriumi, Funaki; Tanaka, Okuno; Fernandes, Bueno, Capixaba; Leo
We say: Jubilo Iwata 1-2 Cerezo Osaka
Both teams head into this game in different form and that is also reflected by the league positions of each club at the moment.
That is why Cerezo will be considered the heavy favourites to win the match, continuing their recent run.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
