Kawasaki Frontale will attempt to end a six-game winless run in all competitions when they play host to Cerezo Osaka in Sunday's J1 League contest.
The hosts occupy 15th position in the J1 League table, while the visitors are sitting in sixth place after putting together an eight-game unbeaten run.
Match preview
Kawasaki are currently a long way from the club that won four league titles in five seasons between 2016 and 2021.
Instead of operating near the top of the standings, Kawasaki are sitting just three points above the drop zone after winning five, drawing nine and losing eight of their 22 league matches.
Toru Oniki's side have failed to win any of their last six competitive matches, following a defeat to Vissel Kobe with four consecutive draws and a defeat in the Emperor's Cup in midweek.
A much-changed side suffered a surprise 3-1 home defeat to second-tier Oita Trinita in Wednesday's third-round tie, ensuring that Kawasaki will not retain the cup that they won last season.
Although they are experiencing a difficult period, Kawasaki may still fancy their chances of taking a point from Sunday's fixture, having avoided defeat in each of their previous seven matches (W3, D4).
Like their hosts, Cerezo Osaka were eliminated from the Emperor's Cup in midweek after they suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat against J2 League side Ventforet Kofu.
While they failed to perform in the Emperor's Cup, the Sakura have proven to be a tough team to beat in league action, having put together an eight-game unbeaten run in the top flight (W4, D4).
After collecting 36 points from 22 matches, the fifth-placed side are currently five points adrift of the Asian Champions League qualification spots.
Cerezo Osaka will need to start picking up wins on the road if they are to have a realistic chance of achieving a top-three finish, with their last seven away matches producing one win, three draws and three defeats.
They can at least draw inspiration from the fact that they have won four of their previous five league matches against Kawasaki (D1), including a 1-0 win in April's reverse fixture.
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Team News
The hosts are unable to call upon the defensive duo of Yuichi Maruyama and Sota Miura, who remain sidelined through injury.
Kento Tachibanada could come into the starting lineup after he came off the bench to score in Kawasaki's most recent league outing against Jubilo Iwata.
Brazilian winger Marcinho will offer one of Kawazaki's main attacking threats, having scored three goals in the last four matches in the J1 League.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Ryosuke Shindo and Kyohei Noborizato due to injury.
Hayato Okuda was absent from last Saturday's matchday squad, but he is expected to start against Kawasaki after he played 90 minutes in the midweek cup tie.
Having scored three goals in the last four league games, Leo Ceara will be looking to continue his fine form when he features in a front two alongside Satoki Uejo.
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Jung; Wermeskerken, Ominami, Takai, Sasaki; Tachibanda, Sesko; Tono, Wakizaka, Marcinho; Yamada
Cerezo Osaka possible starting lineup:
Kim; Sakata, Nishio, Toriumi, Funaki; Fernandes, Tanaka, Okuno, Capixaba; Uejo, Ceara
We say: Kawasaki Frontale 1-1 Cerezo Osaka
Kawasaki have drawn each of their last four top-flight matches, while Cerezo Osaka have seen each of their previous three away league games finish all square, and with that in mind, we think that the two sides could play out a draw in Sunday's encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
