Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds are two of the Meiji Yasuda J.League’s biggest and most successful clubs, and on Friday at 16:00 JST they clash in a must-see match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.

Both Frontale and Urawa have struggled in the early going this season. Frontale have just two wins from their first 10 matches and sit 16th in the table, while Urawa have lost three of their last five and are 10th.

It’s a strange place for two clubs that have an identity as trophy winners. The Reds are the current AFC Champions League holders until the end of the month, while Frontale have earned silverware in seven of the last eight years, including this season’s Fujifilm Super Cup.

Kawasaki fans were hoping that their victory over reigning J1 champions Vissel Kobe at the National Stadium in February would have been a statement of intent but since then manager Toru Oniki's side have been unable to turn in consistent performances and grind out results.

In recent weeks the defense has certainly improved, with just four goals conceded across their last six J1 contests, but Frontale fans have not tasted victory since March.

It won't get much easier this weekend when they host a Reds team that took down Nagoya Grampus last time out.

The Urawa attack has seen a spark with Thiago Santana now leading the line, but the defense has yet to find its footing. Last year's league leaders in goals against have been average in the back this season, conceding nearly half of their 2023 total already.

Will they be able to stand up against a Kawasaki team hungry to turn around their fortunes? Or will Urawa record two wins on the bounce for the first time this season?

Find out on Friday, with all the action live on JLeague.co or your local broadcaster.