Sports Mole previews Saturday’s J1 League clash between Jubilo Iwata and Kawasaki Frontale, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two teams level on 23 points will face off when Jubilo Iwata plays host to Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday’s J1 League contest.
Jubilo Iwata have won just one of their last five top-flight games, while Kawasaki have failed to win any of their previous four matches.
Match preview
After winning promotion last season, Jubilo Iwata have experienced mixed fortunes in the top flight this season, having six, lost draw five and lost 10 of their 21 matches.
Akinobu Yokouchi‘s side experienced a three-game winless league run before they returned to winning ways with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Tokyo Verdy.
However, rather than build upon that result, Jubilo Iwata suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in last Sunday’s away meeting with Urawa Reds.
That result represented their fourth loss in their last five away matches, leaving them in 16th position and five points above the drop zone.
They will now look forward to returning to the Yamaha Stadium, where they have avoided defeat in four consecutive home league games.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki have gone four matches without a win since claiming a narrow 2-1 victory over Nagoya Grampus on June 2.
They followed that victory with a narrow defeat against reigning J1 League champions Vissel Kobe, before playing out three draws against Albirex Niigata, Shonan Bellmare and Sanfrecce Hiroshima despite scoring first in each of those encounters.
Like Saturday’s opponents, Kawasaki have a five-point gap to the drop zone, but are sitting one place higher due to their goal-difference advantage.
Impressively, Toru Oniki‘s side have avoided defeat in each of their seven home league matches, which is quite a contrast to their form on the road.
Kawasaki have failed to win any of their previous nine top-flight away matches since beating Shonan Bellmare 2-1 in their season opener.
Jubilo Iwata J1 League form:
Jubilo Iwata form (all competitions):
Kawasaki Frontale J1 League form:
Kawasaki Frontale form (all competitions):
Team News
Jubillo Iwata could be tempted to make a couple of changes, with Riku Morioka and Yosuke Furukawa both in contention to start after featuring as half-time substitutes against Urawa.
Ryo Germain, who has top scorer for his side this season, is expected to start a fourth consecutive game since returning from injury last month.
The 29-year-old is likely to be joined in the front two by Matheus Peixoto, who has scored six goals in 21 league appearances this season.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Shintaro Kurumaya, Yuichi Maruyama, Sota Miura and Erison.
Takuma Ominami could be recalled to the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench for last Sunday’s draw with Hiroshima.
Brazilian winger Marcinho will be looking to continue his fine run of form after scoring in each of Kawasaki’s last three matches.
Jubilo Iwata possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Uemura, Suzuki, Morioka, Matsubara; Matsumoto, Gomes, Uehara, Furukawa; Germain, Peixoto
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Jung; Van Wermeskerken, Jesiel, Ominami, Sasaki; Tachibanada, Seko; Tono, Wakizaka, Marcinho; Yamada
We say: Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata claimed a dramatic 5-4 victory when the two sides last met in March, and while we do not expect another nine-goal thriller, we think Saturday’s hosts could complete a double over a Kawasaki side that has lost three of their last four away matches.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.