Leaders Kagoshima Visit FC Osaka; Gifu Chase Fourth Straight Win at Kumamoto [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J3 Matchweek 13]

All 10 Matchweek 13 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE will be played on 24 and 25 October.

Leaders Kagoshima travel to FC Osaka after a convincing win over Kochi made it two victories in a row. Aura Takahashi has been in outstanding form, scoring five goals in his last two matches, and will again be a major attacking threat. FC Osaka ended a three-match winless run by beating Nara. Takumi Shimada rewarded his selection in the starting line-up with a strong performance and will be looking to make another contribution.

Second-placed Ehime host Fukushima after edging Yamaguchi 2-1 in a clash near the top of the table. With defenders Koji Sugiyama and Kohei Hosoya both suspended, the players coming into the side will have important roles to play. Fukushima recorded their first win in four matches by beating Kitakyushu, with Hiroki Higuchi scoring his first goal of the season. He will be hoping to build on that breakthrough.

Third-placed Yamaguchi visit Matsumoto after their defeat to Ehime ended an eight-match unbeaten run. Shunsuke Yamamoto has scored in three consecutive matches and will be looking to maintain that form. Matsumoto arrive after a 2-0 win over Gunma, with attention turning to new signing Wellington, who has scored 81 J.League goals.

Eighteenth-placed Gunma host nineteenth-placed Sanuki. Gunma suffered their first defeat in three matches against Matsumoto, conceding early and struggling to recover. A stronger start will be important this time. Sanuki, meanwhile, beat Kanazawa to claim their first victory since the opening match. Having matched their season-high tally with three goals, they will be aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Sagamihara welcome Tochigi SC after their three-match winning streak ended with defeat to Gifu. They had taken the lead but conceded twice in the second half, highlighting the need to manage matches more effectively when ahead. Tochigi SC ended a six-match winless run by beating Shiga. Rookie Haruki Tsutsumi marked his debut with the winning goal and will be hoping to make another impact.

Nara host Ryukyu after their six-match winning run came to an end against FC Osaka. They failed to score for the first time this season and will be looking for a response in attack. Ryukyu have won two in a row after beating Nagano, keeping clean sheets in both matches. They will aim to maintain that defensive solidity as they look to climb further up the table.

Tottori welcome Kochi after a heavy defeat to Kumamoto extended their winless run to three matches. Having lost momentum in the second half, they will need to manage the closing stages more effectively. Kochi suffered their sixth consecutive defeat against Kagoshima, although they did pull a goal back from a set piece. That could provide some encouragement as they look to turn their fortunes around.

Kumamoto host Gifu after beating Tottori to make it two wins in a row. JFA/J.League Special Designated Player Taiyo Nakayama scored twice in that victory and will again be one to watch. Gifu edged Sagamihara to claim their third consecutive win, with Ryoma Kita scoring the winner for the second match running. He will be hoping to play another decisive role as Gifu chase a fourth straight victory.

Shiga and Kanazawa meet with both sides on 14 points, sitting 13th and 11th respectively. Shiga are winless in five after losing to Tochigi SC and have failed to score in their last two matches. Kanazawa have also struggled, suffering consecutive defeats following their loss to Sanuki. Patrick is still searching for his first goal of the season and will be hoping to open his account.

Kitakyushu host Nagano after a narrow defeat to Fukushima denied them back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Daigo Takahashi has scored in two consecutive matches and will be looking to help his side return to winning ways. Nagano missed the chance to make it three wins in a row after losing to Ryukyu. They created chances but failed to score and will need to be more clinical in front of goal.

■Check Out the Key Battles in Each Match
Gunma vs. Kagawa
Sagamihara vs. Tochigi SC
FC Osaka vs. Kagoshima
Nara vs. Ryukyu
Tottori vs. Kochi
Kumamoto vs. Gifu
Matsumoto vs. Yamaguchi
Shiga vs. Kanazawa
Kitakyushu vs. Nagano
Ehime vs. Fukushima