Tokyo vs Shimizu S-Pulse

High-flying Tokyo and out-of-sorts Shimizu S-Pulse are set to square off at Ajinomoto Stadium in a high-stakes J1 League showdown.

An impressive run of three victories from four league matches (L1) has reinforced Tokyo’s bid to whittle down the gap on the J1 League top three, helping them come within six points of third-placed Cerezo Osaka. Having won back-to-back league outings in the build-up to this clash, Tokyo could make it three top-flight triumphs in a row for the first time since the opening four matchdays of the season. Confidence in the home camp is at an all-time high, with the ‘Gas’ coming out victorious in their last three J1 League meetings with Shimizu at this venue. Albert Puig Ortoneda’s side netted 2+ goals in each win in that sequence, which has been the case in their last four home league games.

On the other hand, visiting Shimizu S-Pulse head into this matchday amid a rotten patch, having picked up just one win from their last six J1 League matches (D2, L3). Yet, a comfortable 2-0 win at Gamba Osaka on their most recent top-flight travel helped Shimizu arrest a four-game winless league streak on the road (D2, L2). But to win two consecutive away league fixtures for the first time this season, the visitors will have to defy their underwhelming record on hostile turf (W3, D4, L4). That prospect looks somewhat unrealistic, given that they’ve lost both previous J1 League encounters against Tokyo by 3+ goals ‘to nil.’