Consadole Sapporo will welcome Albirex Niigata to the Sapporo Atsubetsu Park Stadium in the J League on Saturday.
The hosts are winless in their last four league outings and suffered a second defeat in that period last week against Avispa Fukuoka. Supachok Sarachat's 31st-minute strike put them in the lead but Fukuoka scored twice within three minutes in the second half to record a 2-1 win.
The visitors saw their two-game unbeaten run come to an end last week as they fell to a 1-0 home loss to Vissel Kobe. They dropped to 14th place in the league table following the defeat, trailing the hosts by four points.
The hosts returned to winning ways with an impressive 5-2 win over Verspah Oita in the third round of the Emperor's Cup on Wednesday.
Consa have seen a drop in form recently, with just one win from their last six league outings. They have scored one goal apiece in their last four league games. They are winless against the visitors since 2006 and have failed to score in three of their last four meetings against them at Saturday's venue.
The visitors have just one win from their last five games in all competitions. They have failed to score in three of their last four games. They have a poor away record this season with just one win in all competitions, with that triumph coming in February.
Considering the recent form of the two teams, we expect them to settle for a low-scoring draw.
Prediction: Consadole Sapporo 1-1 Albirex Niigata
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least a goal to be scored in the first half - Yes
Tip 4: Takuro Kaneko to score or assist any time - Yes
Read on sportskeeda.com