Kyoto Sanga will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host an in-form Yokohama FC side in the J1 League on Saturday night at Sanga Stadium.
The hosts suffered a home defeat to FC Tokyo last time out, whilst Yokohama extended their unbeaten run with a convincing win in front of their home faithful.
Match preview
Kyoto Sanga's run in the Japanese League Cup came to an end on Sunday afternoon as they lost 3-1 at Sanga Stadium against FC Tokyo, with goals from Masato Morishige, Teruhito Nakagawa and Diego Oliveira securing safe passage to the next round for the visitors.
Sanga were more successful in league action nearly a fortnight ago when they put three past Albirex Niigata at Denka Big Swan Stadium, representing the club's first league away victory since March 18 against Saturday's opponents Yokohama.
Kwi-Jea Cho's men currently sit 14th in the J1 League standings, four points ahead of bottom side Kashiwa Reysol who at this moment occupy the only relegation spot in the division.
Kyoto possess the worst home record in the entire division having collected just six points from eight matches in front of their home supporters, with their most recent win on familiar ground coming on April 15 against fellow strugglers Gamba Osaka.
Yokohama extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to three matches last time out with a 4-1 cup success over Grulla Morioka, with that result being the club's biggest margin of victory so far this term.
League form has been more of a concern in recent times for Shuhei Yomoda's charges, with last year's J League 2 runners-up failing to win any of their last three in the J1 League, managing just the single point.
Away form has been a real struggle for Yokohama this term with only five of their 13 league points to date coming away from NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Stadium - only Avispa Fukuoka have earned fewer points on their travels.
Sitting just two places and one point above the relegation zone having played 17 games of their first season back at this level, the Fulie know an upturn in away form is needed to avoid a nervy end to the campaign.
Team News
Kyoto Sanga may be forced into some changes after Kosuke Kinoshita was forced off at half time in the victory at Albirex last time out in the J1 League, with Osamu Henry Iyoha a possible replacement in the XI.
Shogo Asada and Rikito Inoue are expected to continue as the central-defensive pairing for the hosts as they look to help their side record their first league clean sheet since March 12.
Yokohama will keep German Svend Brodersen in between the sticks when they travel to Sanga Stadium on Saturday, with the 26-year-old producing a player-of-the-match display in the goalless draw with Urawa Red Diamonds a fortnight ago.
Yuri is expected to partner Shion Inoue in the visitors' engine room - the Brazilian is impressing during his first stint outside of his homeland in footballing terms.
Kyoto Sanga possible starting lineup:
Wakahara; Shirai, Inoue, Asada, Sato; Kawasaki, Fukuoka, Hirato; Toyokawa, Yamasaki, Kinoshita
Yokohama FC possible starting lineup:
Brodersen; Yoshino, Iwatake, Moraes; Kondo, Yuri, Inoue, Hayashi; Caprini, Yamashita, Ryan
We say: Kyoto Sanga 1-1 Yokohama FC
Kyoto have struggled over the past month in the J1 League and now face a Yokohama side who are fighting for their lives at the foot of Japan's top flight.
The Fulie enjoyed a productive May and have shown signs of being able to retain their first-tier status, so we believe they will be good enough for a point on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
