The Meiji Yasuda J1 League is back from the international break and Vissel Kobe are ready to dive back in with a visit from Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on Saturday at 14:00 JST in a match that will be streamed live on JLeague.co.

Vissel have had an up and down start to the 2024 campaign, with a couple wins, but also a loss and draw. They are the defending champions and, as such, are getting the best efforts from every team they play. Such is the challenge for this season.

Fortunately for Vissel, they are getting better. Yoshinori Muto is edging closer to being his best self after an early-season injury and reigning MVP Yuya Osako delivered a phenomenal match-winner two games ago in Tokyo. On the other side, the defense is gelling and coming off a clean sheet in their last contest against then-league leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Things aren’t as rosy in Sapporo, where Consadole are still in search of their first win of the campaign. They’re bottom of the table on just one point and the fearsome attack that has carried them for years has scored just once.

The key to a turnaround will be finding that attacking verve that has served this intrepid side so well before. The front three of Musashi Suzuki, Yuya Asano and Supachok Sarachat are all proven top flight players and if Sapporo can get them the ball in more dangerous positions then things could start humming for Mihailo Petrović’s lads again.

Will Sapporo find their spark? Or will Vissel take three points in their fight to defend their title? Find out Saturday on JLeague.co!