Vissel Kobe will be looking to earn back-to-back wins when they host Consadole Sapporo at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe in the J League on Saturday evening.
The hosts are hunting down Yokohama F Marinos at the top of the table, while Consadole are currently marooned in mid-table after some poor form of late.
Match preview
Vissel Kobe responded well to their League Cup exit a fortnight ago by turning on the style against Avispa Fukuoka at Best Denki Stadium last weekend.
Yuya Osako got the visitors that day off to a flying start by scoring after 22 minutes, and a second-half brace from veteran winger Yoshinori Muto sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory on the road.
That success in Fukuoka last time out was the Ushi's first away league maximum since they smashed Kashima Antlers 5-1 on April 15 - a fact which is largely why Takayuki Yoshida's men are not top of the table.
Vissel currently sit second in the J League standings, three points behind Yokohama, although Kobe have played a game fewer than their title-chasing counterparts.
The hosts on Saturday possess the J League's sternest defence, with Yoshida's charges conceding just 13 goals in 17 league games so far, allowing Daiya Maekawa to keep a total of nine clean sheets.
Consadole Sapporo's winless run in all competitions extended to three matches last Saturday with a disappointing 4-1 loss at home to top-three chasing Cerezo Osaka.
The hosts at Sapporo Dome found themselves three goals down within 38 minutes after strikes from Leo, Mutsuki Kato and Hinata Kida, and in truth Mihailo Petrovic's men never looked like recovering from a poor first-half showing.
Consa were knocked out of the League Cup by second-tier side Jubilo Iwata at Sapporo Dome a week earlier, meaning a trip to Kobe on Saturday evening may be a welcome distraction from troubles at home for the team.
Since winning the second tier in 2016, Consadole have never finished below 12th in the J League, and with them currently sitting in ninth at the halfway point, Sapporo could be on for another season of mid-table safety.
If only away form was considered then Petrovic's charges would be challenging for a place in the AFC Champions League, with Consa collecting 16 points from nine league outings so far this term.
Team News
Vissel are likely to name an unchanged side from the one which dismantled Avispa last time out, meaning Yuki Honda and Matheus Thuler will continue at centre-back, aiming to help Maekawa earn his 10th clean sheet of the campaign.
Koya Yuruki will partner the dangerous duo of Osako and Muto in the hosts' attack on Saturday - the 27-year-old will be hoping to add to his six goal contributions this season.
As for Consadole, Daiki Suga is expected to keep his place in the back three despite being replaced by attacker Gun-Hee Kim early in the second half of their defeat last weekend.
Thailand international Supachok Sarachart has scored just once in nine J League appearances this term, meaning Yuki Kobayashi could be drafted into the side to offer a more creative edge.
Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:
Maekawa; Sakai, Thuler, Honda, Hatsuse; Saito, Yamaguchi, Sasaki; Muto, Yuruki, Osako
Consadole Sapporo possible starting lineup:
Sugeno; Tanaka, Okamura, Suga; Kaneko, Arano, Nakamura, Fernandes, Komai; Asano, Sarachart
We say: Vissel Kobe 3-1 Consadole Sapporo
Vissel will be full of confidence after their convincing away victory last weekend, and they should back themselves to score freely against a Consadole side who have conceded seven goals in their last two matches.
The visitors have never been too far away from goalscoring action and drama in recent matches, but we see Consa coming out as losers of an exciting matchup in Kobe on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
