With seven weeks left in the J-League the Championship race has six clubs within four points and anything can happen. This weekend their are a number of matches that will definitely cause a shift in the table.
Table leaders Kashima Antlers visit Gamba Osaka. After falling-out of the AFC Champions League the Antlers found their scoring touch midweek with 2-0 victory over Omiya Ardija. Gamba Osaka which heads to the semi-finals in the Champions League against Urawa Red Diamonds, are riding a three match winning streak and quickly moving up the table. Gamba and the Antlers played to a scoreless draw earlier in the season and we can expect a similar tight match.
In the other major match of the weekend, Oita Trinita travel to face Kawasaki Frontale. Oita was shocked last weekend Yokohama F. Marinos in a 1-0 loss. Trinita has looked like a championship club through most of the year but in the oddest twist have given up points to bottom of the table clubs. Kawasaki overwhelmed Kashiwa Reysol 5-2 last weekend and appear to be over their late season offense swoon and ready for a run up the table.
Tokyo Verdy 1969 visit Nagoya Grampus Eight in a match Grampus will be looking to regain their form in. They fell victim to JEF United Ichihara-Chiba two weeks ago and last Sunday's draw to the Red Diamonds have caused them to lose considerable points of late.
Urawa Red Diamonds visit JEF United Ichihara-Chiba, which might be the hottest club in the J-League right now. They are riding a five match unbeaten streak and have defeated both Nagoya Grampus Eight and Kashima Antlers at home in the last two months. JEF's Scottish manager, Alex Miller, has the club running on all cylinders and the Red Diamonds will need to approach this match with caution.
Shimizu S-Pulse visit FC Tokyo, who greatly harmed their championship hopes last week with a loss to relegation doomed Consadole Sapporo. The loss has sent shock waves around The Gas Men and they will need to rebound quickly.
Yokohama F. Marinos at Albirex Niigata
Kashiwa Reysol at Omiya Ardija
Kyoto Purple Sanga at Vissel Kobe
Consadole Sapporo at Jubilo Iwata
| J-League week 27 | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts |
| Kashima Antlers 鹿島アントラーズ | 27 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 26 | 49 |
| Nagoya Grampus 名古屋グランパス | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 29 | 49 |
| Oita Trinita 大分トリニータ | 27 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 19 | 48 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds 浦和レッズ | 27 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 43 | 28 | 47 |
| Kawasaki Frontale 川崎フロンターレ | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 48 | 37 | 45 |
| FC Tokyo ＦＣ東京 | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 39 | 32 | 45 |
| Gamba Osaka ガンバ大阪 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 35 | 43 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse 清水エスパルス | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 32 | 35 | 37 |
| Kyoto Purple Sanga 京都サンガF.C. | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 33 | 36 |
| Albirex Niigata アルビレックス新潟 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 27 | 40 | 35 |
| Yokohama F Marinos 横浜Ｆ・マリノス | 27 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 34 |
| Vissel Kobe ヴィッセル神戸 | 27 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 34 |
| Kashiwa Reysol 柏レイソル | 27 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 36 | 33 |
| Omiya Ardija 大宮アルディージャ | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 35 | 32 |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 東京ヴェルディ | 27 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 35 | 42 | 31 |
| JEF United Ichihara-Chiba ジェフユナイテッド千葉 | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 26 | 41 | 30 |
| Jubilo Iwata ジュビロ磐田 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 30 | 41 | 29 |
| Consadole Sapporo コンサドーレ札幌 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 32 | 53 | 17 |
