The Japanese top flight action continues this weekend and features this upcoming clash between hosts, Kawasaki Frontale, and their visitors, Consadole Sapporo, when the two teams meet at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium with the hosts looking to press their claims to take over at the top of the J-League.
Despite currently sitting in 3rd place in the Japanese top flight, Saturday’s hosts, Kawasaki Frontale, will be anxious to set the record straight in this upcoming clash against Consadole Sapporo after failing to win their last three matches overall.
Following a four-match winning streak, which included victories over Kashiwa Reysol, Shimizu S-Pulse, Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe respectively, Kawasaki Frontale have been unable to sustain their previous impressive form as they’ve since earned just one point from their subsequent three league games.
A 0-0 draw away from home at Sagan Tosu was then followed by back to back defeats against Shonan Bellmare 4-0 at home and a 1-0 loss away at Kyoto Sanga, so there are certainly no guarantees for the hosts in this one.
Consadole Sapporo sit in the lower half of the J-League in 11th place after they too suffered back to back recent defeats against Kashiwa Reysol and Vissel Kobe after losing just one of their preceding seven games overall.
Despite these recent losses and indeed previous defeats to Sagan Tosu and Kashima Antlers, the visitors have lost just these four matches in their last 18 matches overall in the domestic top flight and proves that Consadole Sapporo are not the easiest team to get the better of, home or away.
On the subject of results away from home, Consadole Sapporo have lost just three out of their last 10 outings on the road along with scoring at least once in seven of these previous 10 away games as well.
Along with picking up wins at Yokohama F Marinos at the end of last season, this term they’ve also registered wins at Nagoya Grampus and Jubilo Iwata as well as points on the road in draws at Shimizu S-Pulse, Avispa Fukuoka, Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka.
However, Kawasaki Frontale have held the upper hand in previous exchanges, winning the last two meetings on the trot so Consadole Sapporo look to have their work cut out here.