Preview: Consadole Sapporo vs. Cerezo Osaka - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, who occupy six points place in the J1 League table, will be hoping to claim consecutive top-flight victories.

Match preview

Consadole Sapporo have enjoyed a promising run of league form in recent weeks, losing just one of their last six top-flight matches.

After playing out a 1-1 away draw with Sagan Tosu in their most recent J1 League fixture, Mihailo Petrovic's side turned their attention to their final group game against Jubilo Iwata in the J.League Cup.

Despite suffering a surprise 3-2 defeat to their second-tier opponents, Consadole Sapporo secured one of the three best runners-up places to advance to the knockout rounds.

They will turn their focus back to league action on Friday, and as the division's highest scorers, they have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season.

While they may have racked up 38 goals in 17 matches, they have conceded 32 league goals this season, leaving them with the third-worst defensive record in the top flight.

In contrast to their hosts, Cerezo Osaka failed to progress from the J.League Cup group stage last weekend after they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to local rivals Gamba Osaka.

They may have failed to deliver in the League Cup, but Cerezo Osaka are currently enjoying a positive spell of form in the top flight, having won four of their last five league matches.

Impressively, Akio Kogiku's side recorded four consecutive away league victories before losing 3-1 to Nagoya Grampus in their most recent away trip.

Having found the net in seven of their eight away matches in the top flight, Cerezo Osaka will be confident of troubling the scorers on Friday.

However, they may have their work cut out to claim all three points after failing to win any of their previous four meetings with Consadole Sapporo (D1, L3).

Consadole Sapporo J1 League form:

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W

W

L

W

D

Consadole Sapporo form (all competitions):

Cerezo Osaka J1 League form:

L

W

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L

W

Cerezo Osaka form (all competitions):

Team News

Consadole Sapporo are expected to be without the services of Yuki Kobayashi, who has missed the last eight matches through injury.

Seiya Baba returned from a spell on the sidelines to make a substitute appearance in the J.League Cup last weekend, and he is expected to feature on the bench against Cerezo Osaka.

Kim Gun-hee could be given the responsibility of leading the line for the hosts, and the forward will be looking to add to the two competitive goals he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the injured trio of Hiroshi Kiyotake, Kim Jin-hyeon and Riku Matsuda.

Ryosuke Shindo did not feature in Sunday's League Cup game against Gamba Osaka, but he could return to the backline for Friday's contest.

Leo Ceara, who has scored six league goals this season, is expected to start up front for Cerezo Osaka alongside Hiroaki Okuno.

Consadole Sapporo possible starting lineup:

Sugeno; Tanaka, Okamura, Nakamura; Kaneko, Arano, Miyazawa, Fernandes; Asano, Komai; Kim

Cerezo Osaka possible starting lineup:

Yang; Maikuma, Shindo, Toriumi, Funaki; Croux, Kida, Kagawa, Capixaba; Okuna, Leo Ceara

We say: Consadole Sapporo 2-1 Cerezo Osaka

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