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Intro

Full schedule of games this weekend with 6 games on Saturday and 3 on Sunday

Title Race - 3 Games to go!

• Kobe dropped points to Shonan opening the door to YFM who are now 2 points behind
• Urawa are in the driving seat to get third place (and the ACL spot) but running out steam

Relegation Battle

• Shonan unlucky not to beat Kobe though with YFC losing increase the gap to 2 points
• Kashiwa unable to beat 10 man Kawasaki and also picked up a point
• If points level, it goes down to GD so realistically YFC have it all to do!

Suspensions

Predicted Lineups

Sapporo vs Hiroshima

Sapporo

• Just 1 win in their last 5 games. 
• Striker Ogashiwa back in full training should start. Suga also in training.
• There are a number of midfielders available including Fukumori and Kobayashi, Baba
• Hints manager will experiment a little now team safe from relegation.
• Without a clean sheet in their last 7 games

Hiroshima

• 4th in table and in great form with 4 wins in last 6 games
• Douglas Vieira is suspended. Marcos Junior and Sotiriou in full training and pushing for starts
• If they do start, could see Notsuda make way for tactical reasons.
• Sasaki in partial training on the 7th Nov and a risk.

Prediction

Sapporo looked much better in their last game and tend to improve when the weather gets cooler. Both teams play very open football with 3 at the back, I expect a fun game and have Hiroshima favorite's to win with both teams scoring. 

Shonan vs Nagoya

Shonan

• Tomii, Onose and Tariq all injured and out
• SBK in training and should start in nets
• Team are in excellent form and tightened up at the back, conceeding just 5 goals in their last 6 games including 3 clean sheets.

Nagoya

• In poor form and their pursuit for 3rd spot is faltering
• Conceded late to 10 man Sagan in a devastating draw.
• Struggling to create chances since Mateus left :(
• Morishima, Uchida and Maeda all fighting for a starting spot
• Unbeaten against Shonan in their last 7 meetings.

Prediction

Shonan have a great opportunity to get a win here. I see it being a low scoring game with Belmare sneaking it.

Niigata vs FC Tokyo

Niigata

• In excellent form and unbeaten in 6 league games. 
• Takagi and Horigome are doubts. Horigome is back in training and wanting to start. Takagi the bigger risk of starting imo
• Manager is changing up the CBs in particular alot, v hard to predict!

FC Tokyo

• Inconsistent form with 2Ws and 3 Ls in last 5 games.
• Trevisan and Nakagawa are suspended
• Kimoto and Tawaratsumida likely come up. Kimura also an option at CB
• Nothing to play for and manager has hinted he may try out some youth eg Kumata. Unclear if from the bench or start
• Brandon should continue in nets

Prediction

Two teams both playing for nothing. Niigata have the edge based on current form especially at home. I see them winning in a close game.

Kashima vs Kashiwa

Kashima

• Just 1 win in last 5 as top 3 challenge falters.
• Shibasaki is injured and out for rest of season
• Anzai seen in training seemingly with no problem
• Chinen in training, unclear if fit to start as hes been struggling with injury recovery for a while.
• Team has the most clean sheets this with 15 including 9 at home (60%) of games.

Kashiwa

• 3rd bottom though in OK form
• Stable team and similar team to last game expected with no known new injuries.
• Drew 1-1 with Kawsaki with Hosoya in particular guilty of missing chances

Prediction

Kashima at home are very hard to break down. I see this being a low scoring draw.

Gamba Osaka vs Fukuoka

Gamba

• Gamba is awful form with no wins in 6 games and only scoring 2 goals during that time.
• Midfielders Lavi and Dawhan suspended
• Jebali a doubt and training seperately. Suzuki is the running to play after a long time out
• Usami should start, im not sure which position given the midfield suspensions. Eg alano in mid and Usami on win is possible.

Fukuoka

• Confidence is high after winning the league cup last week
• DF Grolli is suspended for this game
• Otherwise team is pretty stable and no similar team expected

Prediction

Gamba have been playing very poorly and with two key midfielders out, I see limited reason for this to change. Fukuoka are playing very clincialy and I see them winning.

Sagan vs Yokohama FC

Sagan

• Team are midtable and not playing for anything
• DF Yamazaki is suspended
• Team has been relatively consistent this season in their lineups. No indication of experimenting from manager but is a possibility. 
• Unbeaten in their last 5 games vs YFC

Yokohama FC

• Bottom of the table and at risk of relegation. 
• Yamashita a big doubt still, limited info available.
• Gabriel also close to full fitness. Could make bench here

Prediction

YFC are fighting for their lives and running out of games. This game presents a chance to get something however Sagan are very tough team. I see this game being a draw.

Kawasaki vs Kyoto

Kawasaki

• Midtable and playing for nothing in the league
• Played on Tuesday in their ACL win
• Ominami, Sasaki are out injured. Kurumaya in full training and may feature.
• Tono is suspended for this game
• Could see some changes eg Segawa, Miyashiro, Gomis fighting for starts. Depends on condition of players after ACL game which is unclear at the mo.

Kyoto

• In poor form with 3 losses in a row.
• Ota started in nets last game. Gu not seen in training. Wakahara also a possibility, unclear.
• Toyokawa returns from suspension and should start
• Kyoto are good as safe so could see some rotation/testing of youth players.

Prediction

Kawasakis performances in recent weeks have been improving. Even though they will be slightly fatigued after the ACL game on Tuesday, I see them winning comfortably here.

YFM vs Cerezo

YFM

• 2nd in the table and just 2 points off top spot
• Rotated heavily in their ACL win
• Expected to return to their strongest available lineup.
•  Eduardo is fit and fine to start afaik. Kamijima is most likely to partner him

Cerezo

• Just 1 win in last 5 games. Outside chance of 3rd spot
• Yamanaka back to full fitness and likely starts
• Shibayama started last game. Manager has said he wants to test out new combos including youth. Okuno at risk of being benched again
• Unbeaten in their last 4 meetings against YFM

Prediction

Cerezo are setup well for an attacking team like YFM, I see this being a tight and heavy scoring game with YFM winning.

Urawa vs Kobe

Urawa

• 3rd in the table and unbeaten in 7 league games
• Lost twice in cup competition during the last week. Team looking fatigued
• Akimoto is suspended and Sakai injured. Ogiwara and Ohata fav to start as wingbacks.
• Scholz was rested and should return. The two CBs and Ito especially making more mistakes as usual due to fatigue/number of games.
• Have conceeded the least goals of any team at home this season.

Kobe

• Top of the table and vying for their first ever league title
• Yamaguchi seen in training and should start
• Sasaki also a slight doubt. Rest of team look stable.
• Havent kept a clean sheet vs Urawa in their last 9 meetings.

Prediction

Tough game for Kobe and will really test their title ambitions. Urawa are playing tired and their confidence will be low. I see this being a low scoring draw.

Probabilities

Source: https://twitter.com/keirin_en

Stacks

Def

• Kawasaki
• Fukuoka (Gamba not scoring many)
• Kashima Antlers

Attack

• Hiroshima
• YFM

Full Team

• YFM
• Kawasaki (though rotation risk here)

Finish

I hope you found this useful!

If I see anything important that breaks before the deadline, I will post on Discord.

If you have any feedback or queries, just give me a shout.

Enjoy the games and good luck!