Leaders Niigata Chase Third Straight Win at Akita; Toyama Face Yokohama FC in Top-Four Clash [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J2 Matchweek 8]

All 10 Matchweek 8 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE will be played on 26 September.

Leaders Niigata travel to Akita after edging Iwata 2-1 last time out. Iury Castilho opened his account for the club and will be hoping to build on that goal. Akita drew with Shonan and are now unbeaten in three. After letting a lead slip last time out, seeing games out from winning positions will be a key priority.

Second-placed Sendai travel to Iwaki after a 3-1 win over Tochigi City. Motohiko Nakajima remains in fine form and could again be key. Iwaki beat Tosu to make it back-to-back wins since the managerial change, with their attack clicking into gear after scoring five goals across those two matches.

Third-placed Toyama host fourth-placed Yokohama FC, with the sides level on 13 points. Toyama cruised to a 2-0 victory over Yamagata last time out and have now kept three clean sheets in a row. Their defensive organisation and game management could again be important. Yokohama FC edged Imabari 2-1, with Adailton coming off the bench to score the winner. He could once again make the difference.

Yamagata host Tosu after losing to Toyama for their third straight defeat. They have failed to score in their last two matches and need more cutting edge in attack. Tosu also come into the match on the back of two straight defeats after losing to Iwaki. They showed vulnerability after the break last time out, making second-half game management an area they will need to improve.

Omiya host Kofu after drawing with Fujieda. They remain unbeaten this season but have now drawn four matches in a row. Toya Izumi rescued a point with a dramatic late equaliser last time out; can he help turn one point into three? Kofu lost to Tokushima for their second straight defeat. Goals remain hard to come by, and manager Hiroki Shibuya will need to find a way to sharpen their attack.

Iwata host Hachinohe after losing to Niigata and seeing their winning run come to an end. Takashi Inui is still waiting for his first goal since joining the club and will be eager to get off the mark. Hachinohe have lost two in a row and gone three matches without scoring. After conceding three last time out, they need a response at both ends of the pitch.

Tokushima host Tochigi City after edging Kofu 1-0. Thonny Anderson came off the bench to score the winner and could again provide the spark. Tochigi City lost to Sendai and are now winless in two. Musashi Suzuki opened his account for the season in that defeat and will be hoping the goal can kick-start his campaign.

Imabari host Shonan after losing 2-1 to Yokohama FC. Bottom of the table, they have dismissed manager Abel Mourelo and appointed Yoshikiyo Kuboyama as his successor. After taking charge on an interim basis against Yokohama FC, Kuboyama oversaw his first match as permanent manager in the Emperor's Cup against Kashiwa. How quickly can he turn things around? Shonan drew with Akita and missed the chance to make it two wins in a row. In-form forwards Taiyo Nishino and Hiroto Yamada could again hold the key in attack.

Oita host Fujieda after drawing with Sapporo for their third straight draw. They conceded a late equaliser and let victory slip away, so closing out matches will be important. Fujieda drew with Omiya and are now winless in three. Hayato Manabe has scored in back-to-back matches and could provide the spark they need to end that run.

Miyazaki host Sapporo after beating Hachinohe to make it two wins in a row. They have scored three goals in each of those victories and will head into this match with plenty of attacking momentum. Sapporo drew with Oita and are now winless in six. Ryota Aoki came off the bench to rescue a point with a dramatic late equaliser; can he provide another lift?