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Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe will trade tackles in a J1 League fixture on Saturday with three points on the line.
The home side were emphatic in a 6-0 rout of third division side Kagoshima United in the Emperors Cup in midweek. Yuya Yamagishi starred with a hat-trick in the demolition.
Vissel Kobe also picked up a convincing 4-0 victory over Suzuka Point Getters in the same competition on Wednesday. Junya Tanaka scored a brace in the victory that saw the Cows secure progress to the next round of the competition.
The two sides will hope to use their cup victories as momentum to get back to winning ways in league action.
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Just one point separates both sides in the standings. The newly-promoted Avispa Fukuoka have been punching above their weight and are the better-placed team in fifth position, having garnered 29 points from 18 games. Vissel Kobe are one place and one point below.
Avispa Fukuoka vs Vissel Kobe Head-to-Head
Draws have been a recurring result in previous games, with four of their last six matches ending in a share of the spoils.
Vissel Kobe have eight wins to their name while Fukuoka have registered three victories against the Kobe outfit. Eight games have ended in a draw between the two sides.
Their most recent meeting came in a 2016 league fixture when Vissel Kobe ran riot in a 4-1 away win. Leandro, Nilton, Takuya Iwanami and Kazuma Watanabe were on target for Kobe, while Daisuke Sakata scored an injury-time consolation goal for Fukuoka.
Avispa Fukuoka form guide: W-L-D-W-W
Vissel Kobe form guide: W-D-L-D-W
Also Read: Yokohama FC vs FC Tokyo prediction, preview, team news and more | J1 League 2021
Avispa Fukuoka vs Vissel Kobe Team News
Avispa Fukuoka
On-loan attacker from Shenzen, John Mary, remains sidelined due to injury for the hosts.
Injuries: John Mary
Suspension: none
Vissel Kobe
Junya Tanaka has recovered from his niggling injury concerns and could be deployed to lead the line. However, star defender Thomas Vermalen is unavailable as he is part of Belgium's squad for the ongoing European Championship.
Injuries: none
Suspension: none
Also Read: Jim Beglin's column - 5 players who could impress in unfamiliar positions
Avispa Fukuoka vs Vissel Kobe Predicted XI
Avispa Fukuoka Predicted XI (4-4-2): Masaaki Murakami (GK); Naoki Wako, Douglas Grolli, Tatsuki Nara, Emil Salomonsson; Taro Sugimoto, Hiroyuki Mae, Takuya Shigehiro, Jordy Croux; Yuya Yamagishi, Bruno Mendes
Vissel Kobe Predicted XI (4-4-2): Daiya Maekawa (GK); Gotoku Sakai, Yuki Kobayashi, Rhuho Kikuchi, Tetsushi Yamakawa; Hotaru Yagamuchi, Yuta Goke, Sergi Samper, Andres Iniesta; Kyogo Furuhashi, Junya Tanaka
Also Read: Paul Merson's column - Euro 2020: 5 surprise contenders for the Player of the Tournament award
Avispa Fukuoka vs Vissel Kobe Prediction
There is little to separate the sides and their trend of draws is likely to continue. Both teams have almost identical records in attack and defense and we are predicting a share of the spoils with goals to be scored at both ends.
Prediction: Avispa Fukuoka 1-1 Vissel Kobe
