Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Shonan Bellmarevs.Avispa Fukuoka

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 August 2024, 22:58
Two sides in contrasting runs of form in Japan's top flight will do battle on Wednesday, as Shonan Bellmare welcome Avispa Fukuoka to the Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka.

The visitors have climbed out of the relegation zone in the J1 League table with three consecutive victories, while a three-match losing run has seen their visitors drop to eighth spot.

Match preview

Shonan Bellmare return to action on Wednesday aiming to continue an eye-catching upturn in form and a subsequent climb away from the J1 League drop zone, having strengthened their position in the fight at the bottom end of the division in recent weeks.

After avoiding relegation to Japan's second tier by five points last term, Shonan Bellmare endured a dismal first half to the new campaign, Satoshi Yamaguchi's side endured a dismal first half to the new campaign, picking up just three victories in their first 21 outings as a home defeat to Kyoto Sanga at the end of June left them 19th on just 16 points.

The Hiratsuka outfit appear to have turned a corner in their fight for survival since, though, having since doubled that tally of victories with three consecutive league wins and four on the bounce in all competitions, firstly bouncing back with a 3-2 triumph away at Urawa Red Diamonds, with two injury-time goals, to end a six-game winless streak, before progressing through the Emperor's Cup third round by beating Tokyo Verdy 1-0.

Yamaguchi's men then hosted Jubilo Iwata in mid-July and dished out a 5-0 beating, with Lukian hitting a hat-trick alongside goals from Masaki Ikeda and Ryo Nemoto, before most recently extending their run in impressive fashion away at second-placed Gamba Osaka and leaping out of the bottom three with a 1-0 victory thanks to Taiga Hata's decisive goal seven minutes from time.

While they do remain just one point above the drop zone in 16th spot after 24 J1 League outings, Shonan Bellmare are bound to have plenty of renewed confidence after their recent upturn in form, and they will bid to keep building momentum and move further clear of the bottom three with a fourth straight top-flight triumph on Wednesday.

Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip in the midst of a different trajectory to that of their hosts, having experienced a dip in their form in recent weeks.

Aiming to build on last season's seventh-placed J1 League finish, Avispa Fukuoka enjoyed an eye-catching first half to the 2024 campaign, sitting sixth after 21 outings on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak including five victories, having moved onto 35 points.

That saw Avi move onto nine wins for the campaign alongside just four defeats from those games, but they have failed to extend the fine form since, firstly seeing their unbeaten streak brought to an end in a 2-1 loss at home to Kyoto Sanga, in which the visitors' winning goal came in the 99th minute, before being knocked out of the Emperor's Cup by second-tier Ehime FC.

Shigetoshi Hasebe's side have failed to bounce back in two further attempts since, instead suffering consecutive 1-0 defeats at the hands of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Tokyo Verdy, with the latter being settled by a first-half Hiroto Yamami goal at the Best Denki Stadium in July.

Now returning to J1 League action for the first time in over two weeks, Avispa Fukuoka find themselves eighth in the Japanese top flight in the midst of their rut, but with seventh-placed FC Tokyo and sixth-placed Cerezo Osaka only one and two points better off respectively, they can quickly improve their standing again with a return to winning ways on Wednesday.

Shonan Bellmare J1 League form:

L

D

L

W

W

W

Shonan Bellmare form (all competitions):

Previews by email

Top News

26 November 2024 talksport.com The hectic winter period is coming up in the Premier League and that means a whole lot of football. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both striving to earn their first wins of the League Phase in this competition, Rigas Futbola Skola and PAOK will lock horns for a Europa League battle on Thursday evening. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Noel Gallagher poked fun at Tottenham and labelled them as 'frauds' despite Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of champions Manchester City. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe will likely never fulfil his mother's wish of playing for Liverpool but that doesn't mean two years ago he didn't come close. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester didn't have a number one target in mind when they decided to change manager as their search for Steve Cooper's replacement begins. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are prepared to be without the services of Reece James on Thursday night, when a Conference League clash at German side Heidenheim is scheduled. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Liverpool face the biggest challenge to their unbeaten Champions League start at home to Real Madrid this week, live on talkSPORT. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal will look to return to winning ways in the Champions League tonight when they take on Sporting Lisbon. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly face fierce competition in January if they wish to sign Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both looking to keep their 100% continental records intact, Heidenheim and Chelsea will lock horns at Voith-Arena for a Conference League clash on Thursday evening. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Christian Pulisic's emergence as AC Milan's creative influence is likely to see him restored to the starting lineup on Tuesday night. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to leave the iconic Parc des Princes in favour of a swanky new 60,000-seat stadium. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Harry Kane has admitted world football is 'changing' as he addressed the decline in the number of traditional number nine forwards. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both situated just inside the Europa League playoff places midway through the league phase, Slavia Prague and Fenerbahce will lock horns on Thursday. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Bastien Meupiyou has finally made his first appearance for the Premier League club. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly contemplating an approach for Hammarby winger Bazoumana Toure. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly established whether they consider Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap to be a future transfer target. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Tottenham will consider signing a new goalkeeper in January following the injury to Guglielmo Vicario, talkSPORT understands. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has seemingly ended any chance of Arda Guler leaving the club during the January transfer window. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to take one step closer to the last 16, Europa League leaders Lazio will welcome Ludogorets Razgrad to Stadio Olimpico on Thursday. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Another Premier League gameweek, another weekend of Liverpool streaking clear while Manchester City falter, as Arne Slot's men established an eight-point lead at the top of the rankings with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Southampton. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan (Tuesday, 5.45pm) Seeking a third straight Champions League win, Italian giants AC Milan will meet struggling Slovan Bratislava at Stadion Tehelne Pole on Tuesday evening. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon is allegedly hoping to agree to the mutual termination of his contract. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will look to claim his first win as Manchester United head coach when his side welcome Bodo/Glimt to Old Traffordfor Thursday's Europa League contest. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been accused of 'thinking about himself' by fellow club legend Jamie Carragher. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On matchday five of the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb will welcome inconsistent Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to Stadion Maksimir on Wednesday. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie Carragher has revealed he's been left 'very disappointed' by Mohamed Salah after he delivered a huge Liverpool contract update. 25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly held "positive" contract talks with the agent of Mohamed Salah, despite comments suggesting otherwise. 25 November 2024 talksport.com Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has revealed he played over an hour with a broken ankle against Manchester City.