🏏 Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00 JST
Fagiano Okayama
vs
Shimizu S-pulse
3-4-2-1 vs 4-3-3
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- A direct mid-table contest between 9th-placed Okayama (21 points) and 11th-placed Shimizu (20 points), separated by a single point. Okayama are in good form with three wins, a draw and a loss in their last five, having beaten Vissel Kobe 3-0 away last time out. Shimizu, by contrast, are winless across their last five with one win, two draws and two losses and have been unable to build up points. Neither side is close to the title or relegation fights, but both want to accumulate steady points to secure survival.
- The previous meeting in Matchday 6 ended 1-1 at Shimizu's home, where Shimizu took the lead before Okayama equalised in the second half. This is the only H2H this season, so both will want to come out on top in the head-to-head.
- A clash of contrasting shapes, with Okayama in a 3-4-2-1 and Shimizu in a 4-3-3. Okayama field former Japan international Atom Esaka (CAM) and Taiya Kimura as second strikers behind the 190cm Brazilian centre-forward Welick Popo. Shimizu build around 194cm South Korean striker Oh Se-hun (2 goals in 7 games at the U-20 World Cup, with AFC U-23 Championship experience), with left winger Kai Matsuzaki and right winger Toshiki Takahashi attacking from both flanks.
- Okayama's veteran midfielder Ryo Takeuchi (35, a CM) faces his former club after playing 14 seasons at Shimizu S-Pulse, where he was captain for four straight seasons. Having joined Okayama from Giravanz Kitakyushu last year, he serves as the heart of the team with his abundant running and accurate passing. As a player who knows Shimizu inside out, what he produces will draw attention.
- Shimizu's midfield is anchored by a trio of Brazilian-born defensive midfielder Mateus Bueno (a CDM whose long and short passing from his right foot is a weapon, with overseas experience in Portugal), Zento Uno and Yudai Shimamoto. Okayama counter with former Japan international Atom Esaka (born 1992, 31, who joined after spells at Omiya, Kashiwa, Urawa and South Korea's Ulsan, with accurate shooting and final passes from both feet) and defensive midfielder Eiji Miyamoto at the heart of midfield.
- Okayama line up their back three with Yoshitake Suzuki on the left, Yugo Tatsuta in the centre and Hiro Omori on the right. Shimizu deploy a back four of Mateus Brunetti at left-back, Yuki Honda and Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi at centre-back, and Kengo Kitazume at right-back. The match-up between Okayama's back three and Shimizu's wide attack looks likely to be where the game is decided.