Still licking their wounds from their Emperor Cup exit, Yokohama F Marinos play host to Kawasaki Frontale in round 21 of the Japanese J1 League on Saturday.
While the visitors have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks, they are without a win in each of their last four away games in the league and will be looking to end this dry spell.
Match preview
Yokohama F Marinos suffered a third-round exit from the Emperor Cup when they fell to a shock 4-1 home defeat at the hands of J2 League outfit Machida Zelvia on Wednesday.
The second-tier side turned in a resounding team performance as goals from Mitchell Duke, Sho Fuseya and a brace from Yu Hirakawa put them four goals up before Kenta Inoue grabbed an 84th-minute consolation.
Yokohama now turn their attention to the J1 League, where they are currently unbeaten in each of their last matches, picking up 19 points from a possible 21 since a 2-1 loss to Albirex Niigata on May 14.
Kevin Muscat's side head into the weekend as one of just two sides yet to lose a league game at home this season, having picked up seven wins and two draws in their nine outings.
With 43 points from 20 matches, Yokohama F Marinos currently sit at the top of the J1 League standings, three points above second-placed Vissel Kobe, who have one game in hand.
Kawasaki Frontale, on the other hand, avoided an upset in their Emperor Cup clash in midweek as they picked up a 2-1 victory over second-tier side Mito Hollyhock.
Tatsuki Seko and Taisei Miyashiro scored in either half at the K's Denki Stadium Mito to put the hosts in a comfortable lead before substitute Shimon Teranuma halved the deficit with an 81st-minute strike.
Kawasaki Frontale now return to the J1 League, where they eased to a 3-0 victory over Yokohama FC last Saturday to snap their run of two successive games without a win.
Toru Oniki's men have picked up eight wins and four draws in their 19 matches so far to collect 28 points and sit ninth in the table but could move up to sixth place with all three points this weekend.
However, Kawasaki have struggled for results away from home, where they have failed to win any of their last four outings, losing three and claiming one draw since May's 1-0 win over Kyoto Sanga.
Team News
Muscat rested a few key players in midweek but should name a strong side on Saturday, with skipper Eduardo, Elber and Anderson Lopes, who is currently the league's leading scorer with 15 goals, returning to the XI.
On the injury front, Ryuta Koike and Ryotaro Tsunoda will play no part in this weekend's matchup as they are recuperating from knee and metatarsal injuries respectively.
Veteran goalkeeper Hiroki Iikura has missed each of the last nine matches after coming off with a ligament injury in May's game against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Kawasaki Frontale will take to the pitch without the services of Jesiel, who has been sidelined since picking up a meniscus injury against Shonan Bellmare on March 4.
He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow defender Shuto Tanabe, who is battling a ligament problem, while midfielder Marcinho has missed the last 10 matches through a hamstring injury.
Yu Kobayashi is set to sit out his sixth consecutive game through a hamstring problem, while former Real Betis forward Leandro Damiao suffered a sprained ankle in July's game against Shonan Bellmare.
Yokohama F Marinos possible starting lineup:
Ichimori; Nagato, Eduardo, Kamijima, Matsubara; Watanabe, Fujita; Elber, Nishimura, Matheus; Lopes
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Jung; Yamane, Takai, Kurumaya, Noborizato; Wakizaka, Schmidt, Seko; lenaga, Yamada, Miyashiro
We say: Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Looking at past results between Yokohama F. Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale, we anticipate an action-packed contest with plenty of goalmouth action. Yokohama's home advantage makes them slight favourites and we are backing them to arrest their slump in form this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
