Yokohama F. Marinos lead the J1 League by a mere one point ahead of round No 18. Nagoya Grampus are chasing Yokohama in a tight title race.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, Shonan Bellmare are looking to escape the bottom two, and Kashiwa Reysol are desperate to end a three-game losing streak.
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo just edged rival Cerezo Osaka in their last six head-to-head matches, with three wins, one draw, and two defeats. Sapporo defeated Osaka 3-2 in the reverse J1 League match. Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo won their last two fixtures versus Cerezo Osaka.
Cerezo are sixth in the league and on a run of good form. The team won four of their last six games. However, Cerezo go into round No 18 on the back of a 3-1 away loss to Nagoya Grampus.
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo went unbeaten in back-to-back matches in the league. They took four points from six in those two matches. Sapporo are not a strong home team. Their home record is 3W-1D-4L.
Kashima Antlers went unbeaten in their last six games against Gamba Osaka, winning five times and drawing once. The Antlers claimed a 4-0 win in the teams’ reverse fixture at home. Kashima won on their last two visits to Gamba Osaka.
Gamba are 15th in the league standings but are on a good run of form. They won each of their last three games in the J1 League. Only one team is relegated in the J1 League. For now, Gamba are four points ahead of bottom club Kashiwa Reysol.
Kashima Antlers are seventh in the league table ahead of round No 18. They go into the fixture in great form and unbeaten in six straight matches. Kashima took 12 points from their last 18 points on offer. The Antlers kept back-to-back clean sheets in the league.
Kashiwa Reysol are in the only relegation position in the J1 League. Reysol are one point off safety. They could move out of the relegation place this weekend against Albirex Niigata. Kashiwa went unbeaten in five of their last six games against Albirex Niigata.
Niigata will visit Kashiwa in a relegation six-pointer. They are 13th in the league standings and winless in four straight J1 matches. Albirex Niigata took only five points from their last six games. The reverse league fixture saw the teams draw nil-nil.
Kashiwa are on a three-game losing streak. They went unbeaten in their last three home matches against Albirex Niigata, with one win and two draws. Reysol failed to win their last four matches in the league played at home.
Shonan Bellmare went unbeaten in five of their last six matches against Sagan Tosu in all competitions. The reverse fixture in 2023 saw Shonan Bellmare win 5-1 away from home against Sagan Tosu.
Shonan Bellmare are 17th in the 18-team J1 League. They took 12 points from their opening 16 games, posting a –5-goal difference. They took a mere one point from their last six games.
In contrast, Sagan Tosu are in great form going into the match on Saturday. They went unbeaten in their last six games, collecting 12 points from 18 points available. Their last three matches in the J1 League saw both teams score.