Second-Placed Yokohama FC Face Iwaki Under New Management; Sendai Chase Fourth Straight Win Against Struggling Sapporo [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J2 Matchweek 6]

All 10 Matchweek 6 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE will be played on 12 and 13 September.

League leaders Omiya host Oita. They remain unbeaten after drawing with Akita last time out, but it was their second straight draw. Having failed to score despite registering 19 shots, improving their quality in the final third will be key. Oita drew with Imabari and are now winless in two. They have not beaten Omiya in their last 10 meetings, drawing four and losing six, and will look to use a victory as a springboard to turn things around.

Second-placed Yokohama FC travel to face Iwaki after cruising past Niigata last time out. They will look to carry the momentum from their five-goal display into this match and move top of the table. Iwaki lost to Tokushima to suffer their fourth straight defeat. Yuzo Tamura stepped down ahead of this match, with Kazuaki Tasaka appointed as his successor. How Tasaka looks to turn things around will be a key focus.

Third-placed Sendai host Sapporo after beating Shonan to make it three wins in a row. Motohiko Nakajima has scored in back-to-back matches and could again be key. Sapporo lost to Tochigi City to suffer their fourth straight defeat. Having conceded 12 goals during that four-match run, tightening up their defensive organisation will be a key priority.

Akita host Tokushima after drawing with Omiya and are now winless in two. Can their attack respond after failing to score in back-to-back matches? Tokushima edged Iwaki to make it two wins in a row. Daiki Watari struck the winner for his first goal of the season and could again play an important role.

Hachinohe host Shonan after drawing with Fujieda and missing the chance to make it back-to-back wins. They have kept clean sheets in their last two matches and will now be hoping Ryuji Sawakami can open his account. Shonan lost to Sendai to suffer their first defeat of the season and are now winless in three. Hiroto Yamada remains in good form, but they will need more from the rest of their attack.

Toyama host Tochigi City after beating Iwata 1-0 last time out. Keijiro Ogawa struck the winner and will look to deliver again. Tochigi City cruised to a 4-1 victory over Sapporo, with Yuta Koike and Kazuki Nishiya both scoring twice. The pair could again hold the key to their attack.

Kofu host Iwata after edging Yamagata to make it two wins in a row. Yamato Naito has scored in back-to-back matches and could again be key. Iwata lost to Toyama and missed the chance to make it three wins in a row. Despite creating chances, they failed to score. Can Takashi Inui, who has remained in the starting line-up, open his account?

Imabari host Tosu after drawing with Oita. The result ended their four-match losing run, but they remain winless after five matches. Edigar Junio has not scored since the opening match and will be looking to get back on the scoresheet. Tosu cruised past Miyazaki to claim their first win in four matches. Manato Yoshida played a key role with a goal and an assist; can he shine again?

Miyazaki host Fujieda after losing to Tosu, with their first J2 victory continuing to elude them. With Yusei Toshida, one of their main goal threats, having joined Gamba Osaka, can Keigo Hashimoto, who returned to the starting line-up last time out, help them claim that long-awaited first win? Fujieda drew with Hachinohe and missed the chance to make it back-to-back wins. Despite enjoying significantly more possession, they failed to score, so they will need more ideas to break down the opposition.

Niigata host Yamagata in a meeting between eighth and seventh, with both sides on nine points. Niigata suffered a heavy defeat to Yokohama FC last time out, ending their three-match winning run. Tightening up defensively after conceding five goals will be a key priority. Yamagata lost to Kofu and missed the chance to make it three wins in a row. After conceding twice early on, making a stronger start will be important.