Vissel Kobe have been chasing the Meiji Yasuda J1 League leaders all season, sitting just behind and waiting to make their push for a second consecutive title. Now, with 10 weeks to go, it’s time for the reigning champions to make their run and they’ll hope to do that on Sunday at 19:00 JST when they visit Avispa Fukuoka live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.

Vissel enter the weekend perfectly poised to make a run at the top, sitting five points back of first-place FC Machida Zelvia and unbeaten in their last three.

Their title push may hinge on the continued production of Taisei Miyashiro and Yoshinori Muto — a blend of youth and experience that is clicking down the stretch and has combined for 18 league goals.

Finding a way through Fukuoka’s excellent defense will not be easy, though. Shigetoshi Hasebe has orchestrated one of the stingest back lines in the league, which is why Avispa sit seventh in the table despite scoring the fewest goals in J1.

Will Miyashiro and Muto pierce the Avispa rearguard and continue their fight for the title? Or will they fall flat in Fukuoka?

Find out live on JLeague.co as the title race takes another turn!