Leaders FC Tokyo Host Reigning Champions Kashima; Machida Face Hiroshima in Top-Three Clash [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J1 Matchweek 14]

All 10 Matchweek 14 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE will be played on 7 and 8 November.
 
Matchweek 14 features several intriguing encounters, with leaders FC Tokyo hosting reigning champions Kashima. FC Tokyo cruised past Okayama last time out to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches. Their defence has been particularly impressive, with eight consecutive clean sheets, while their attack has also flourished, scoring 10 goals in their last two matches. Teruhito Nakagawa has netted twice in each of those games and will again be a key attacking threat. Kashima, meanwhile, claimed their first win in three matches by beating Cerezo Osaka, with Elber scoring twice. He will be looking to maintain that form against the leaders.
 
Third-placed Machida host second-placed Hiroshima in another clash near the top of the table. Machida drew with Gamba Osaka last time out and are unbeaten in five matches, although they have failed to win their last two. They have also kept five consecutive clean sheets and will look to maintain that defensive solidity as they seek their first victory over Hiroshima, having lost all four previous meetings. Hiroshima arrive on the back of consecutive wins after beating Mito. They have also impressed defensively, while Akito Suzuki, who has scored in each of their last two matches, will be a key figure in attack.
 
Kobe face Urawa at MUFG Stadium after beating Nagoya to claim their first win in three matches. Yoshinori Muto was involved in all three goals, scoring once and providing two assists, and will be looking to make another decisive contribution. Urawa suffered defeat to Kashiwa, bringing their three-match winning streak to an end. Yuta Miyamoto was sent off in that game and will be suspended, giving his replacement an opportunity to step up. Goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa also drew level with the all-time J1 appearance record against Kashiwa and will be looking to set a new mark.
 
Gamba Osaka take on Cerezo Osaka in the derby after a draw with Machida extended their unbeaten run to four matches. However, three of those games have ended level, and turning draws into wins remains a challenge. With goals proving hard to come by, Eli Adams could provide a spark after scoring a superb direct free-kick in Wednesday's AFC Champions League Elite fixture. Cerezo, meanwhile, lost to Kashima and are now winless in eight matches. Tightening up a defence that has continued to concede multiple goals will be a priority.
 
Kashiwa host Kawasaki Frontale after a convincing win over Urawa made it two victories in a row. Hinata Yamauchi has been in fine form and will be looking to impress against his former club. Kawasaki's three-match winning streak ended with defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos. They are unbeaten in their last 16 meetings with Kashiwa, with nine wins and seven draws, and will aim to extend that record to stay in contention near the top of the table.
 
Shimizu welcome Tokyo Verdy after suffering their third consecutive defeat against Kyoto. Having conceded 11 goals in those three matches and failed to score in any of them, they urgently need improvements at both ends of the pitch. Tokyo Verdy, meanwhile, beat Nagasaki to record back-to-back wins. Itsuki Someno opened his account for the season in that victory and will be hoping to build on it.
 
Yokohama F. Marinos host Okayama after an emphatic win over Kawasaki Frontale extended their unbeaten run to nine matches. Daiya Tono has scored twice in his last three matches and will again be an important attacking figure. Okayama suffered their second straight defeat against FC Tokyo. Having conceded a season-high four goals, they will need to tighten up defensively.
 
Nagoya welcome Kyoto after losing to Kobe, their first defeat in five matches. Kensuke Nagai scored his first goal of the season and will be looking to help his side return to winning ways. Kyoto claimed their first victory in five matches with a convincing win over Shimizu. Rafael Elias scored twice in that game and will again be central to their attacking hopes.
 
Eighteenth-placed Chiba host nineteenth-placed Mito after beating Fukuoka to claim their second win of the season and their first in seven matches. Eighteen-year-old Makoto Himeno has scored in consecutive games and will be hoping to maintain that form. Mito, meanwhile, suffered their seventh straight defeat against Hiroshima and were unable to mark new manager Naoki Mori's first match in charge with a win. Having failed to score in four consecutive matches, they need a response from their attack.
 
Bottom-of-the-table Fukuoka host Nagasaki after a heavy defeat to Chiba extended their losing streak to four matches. Ahead of this fixture, they dismissed manager Shinya Tsukahara, with head coach Yusuke Murakami taking interim charge. How he sets about turning the team's fortunes around will be a key talking point. Nagasaki have also lost two in a row after falling to Tokyo Verdy. Tiago Santana scored his first goal in six matches in that defeat and will be hoping to make a contribution that helps secure all three points.

■Check Out the Key Battles in Each Match
Shimizu vs. Tokyo Verdy
Yokohama F · Marinos vs. Okayama
Nagoya vs. Kyoto
FC Tokyo vs. Kashima
Fukuoka vs. Nagasaki
Kashiwa vs. Kawasaki Frontale
Machida vs. Hiroshima
Kobe vs. Urawa
Gamba Osaka vs. Cerezo Osaka
Chiba vs. Mito