Fortress Fukuoka to silence S-pulse's momentum? (Shimizu S-pulse vs Avispa Fukuoka prediction) | OneFootball

Shimizu S-pulse vs Avispa Fukuoka: Table-Toppers Face Resurgent Hosts

Shimizu S-pulse welcome league leaders Avispa Fukuoka to the IAI Stadium on Sunday, with the hosts looking to build on their dramatic comeback victory against Yokohama F. Marinos last time out.

Form Guide

Akiba's Shimizu side ended a four-match winless streak with that stirring 3-2 victory at Yokohama, where they overturned a two-goal deficit through strikes from Hikaru Nakahara, an own goal, and a winner from the returning Takashi Inui.

The victory lifted S-pulse to 10th in the table, but they face a stern test against an Avispa Fukuoka side in imperious form. After starting the season with three consecutive defeats, Kim Myung Hwi's men have embarked on a remarkable seven-match unbeaten run, including six victories, to surge to the top of the J1 League.

Team News

Shimizu's defensive options are severely limited for this encounter. Kengo Kitazume serves a suspension following his straight red card, while injuries to several defenders including Sen Takagi have left Akiba's backline threadbare.

The versatile Yutaka Yoshida will likely continue his run of starts, having demonstrated his adaptability by switching between wing-back and full-back roles in recent matches. Inui's return from injury provided a significant boost against Yokohama, with the veteran midfielder scoring the decisive goal off the bench.

Avispa Fukuoka, by contrast, report no major injury concerns and are expected to field a settled side. Their defensive solidity has been the foundation of their success, with new signings Shahab Zahedi and Tomoya Miki integrating seamlessly into the attack.

Tactical Battle

This match presents an intriguing clash of styles. Shimizu will hope to carry forward the attacking momentum from their comeback victory but must contend with the league's most disciplined defensive unit.

Avispa have built their title challenge on organisation and efficiency, becoming specialists in tight victories – their "uno-zero" approach has seen them grind out several 1-0 wins during their unbeaten run.

For the hosts, this fixture marks the end of an intense period of eight matches in quick succession, raising questions about potential fatigue in Akiba's squad.

Prediction

Shimizu's dramatic victory at Yokohama demonstrated their resilience and attacking potential, particularly with Inui back in the fold. However, their defensive issues and the fatigue factor cannot be overlooked against the league's form team.

Avispa Fukuoka's remarkable transformation under Kim Myung Hwi has been built on defensive solidity and clinical finishing. Their ability to control matches and grind out results should serve them well against a Shimizu side forced to reshuffle their backline.

While S-pulse will be buoyed by home advantage and their recent comeback heroics, Avispa's organisation and momentum make them slight favourites in what promises to be a closely-fought encounter.

Predicted Score: Shimizu S-pulse 1-2 Avispa Fukuoka