Kawasaki Frontale take on Yokohama FC at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium on Saturday evening, in the latest round of J1 League fixtures.
The hosts are sitting in 10th place, having collected 25 points from their opening 18 games, while the visitors are down in 16th, just two points above the relegation zone.
Match preview
After finishing in second place last season, just two points off top spot, Kawasaki have failed to build on such a promising campaign, currently sitting 12 points adrift of third-placed Kobe, who occupy the final AFC Champions League qualification spot.
Only three sides have scored fewer goals than the Blue-black, with their lack of cutting edge in front of goal really costing them, and they once again failed to find the back of the net in their last match.
In an away trip to Nagoya, Toru Oniki's side dominated the possession, while also recording 23 shots on goal, but their opponents were simply far more clinical, with goals from Kasper Junker and Ryuji Izumi either side of half time handing the hosts the three points.
Kawasaki had been showing signs of improvement prior to their trip to Nagoya, winning four and drawing one of their last four matches in all competitions, including their last three on home soil, which should give them confidence heading into Saturday's encounter.
Not only that, the Blue-black have won their last six matches against Saturday's opponents at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, and they have only ever lost one of the meetings between the two sides, although that did come earlier this season in a 2-1 defeat.
Indeed, Yokohama finally managed to get a win on the board against Kawasaki back in May, but victories have otherwise been few and far between in what has been a very disappointing season so far.
Fulie have picked up just 14 points from their opening 19 games, meaning they are only two points above bottom-of-the-table Shonan Bellmare, who are set to travel to 17th-placed Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday night.
Much like their opponents, Saturday's visitors have struggled in front of goal, having found the back of the net just 14 times so far this season, while they also have the joint-second worst defensive record in the division, leaking 37 goals.
Shuhei Yomoda's side did look a bit more solid at the back in their last match, drawing 0-0 at home against Gamba Osaka, but they once again looked toothless in front of goal, and a much-improved attacking display will be needed if they are to take all three points this weekend.
Team News
Kawaksaki Frontale have no fresh injury concerns to contend with heading into Saturday's game, but Oniki might choose to make a couple of changes, in light of the disappointing performance away at Nagoya.
Daiya Tono has been given the nod in the past two games, after scoring against Shonan, but the right-winger has failed to have much of an impact, and Shin Yamada could return to the side.
Taisei Miyashiro is Kawasaki's top scorer this season, having scored four league goals, but he has now found the back of the net just once in his past eight games, and Yusuke Segawa could be set to lead the line.
With his Yokohama side picking up a clean sheet in their last match, Yomoda is unlikely to make any changes defensively, but Brazilian forward Saulo Mineiro could replace Marcelo Ryan in attack, having impressed off the bench in recent weeks, scoring twice against Grulla Morioka.
Sho Ito has also shown promising signs after being brought on as a substitute, netting his side's only goal in the 2-1 loss at Kyoto Sanga, and the 34-year-old may come in for Keijiro Ogawa, on the right of the front three.
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Kamifukumoto; Yamane, Takai, Kurumaya, Noborizato; Schmidt, Oshima, Ienaga, Yamada, Wakizaka; Segawa
Yokohama FC possible starting lineup:
Brodersen; Yoshino, Iwatake, Moraes; Yamane, Lara, Inoue, Hayashi; Ogawa, Yamashita, Mineiro
We say: Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 Yokohama FC
It has been a very underwhelming season for Kawasaki Frontale up to this point, but they have improved a little bit in recent weeks, winning their last three home games on the spin.
With Yokohama FC struggling near the bottom of the J1 League table, we expect the hosts to come away with a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
