TOKYO (Interstat) — Shimizu S-Pulse and Tokyo Verdy, two sides separated by a single point in the J1 League table, will meet Saturday in a late-season clash with both teams seeking to build momentum.

The match at Shimizu’s home ground pits a Verdy squad (12-16-10) arriving with confidence against an S-Pulse side (13-16-15) looking to rebound from a damaging defeat.

Tokyo Verdy enters on a two-match winning streak, including a 1-0 victory over Albirex Niigata last Saturday. The recent form marks a positive shift for a team that has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.

Conversely, Shimizu S-Pulse is coming off a wild 5-3 road loss to Kawasaki Frontale, a result that highlighted defensive vulnerabilities. The home side will look to its recent dominance in this specific fixture for a boost; S-Pulse has won both meetings this season, 1-0 and 3-2.

Despite that head-to-head advantage, the overall season records point to a tight contest. According to Interstat’s game simulator, the most likely outcome is a 1-1 draw.

Saturday’s match will be the first of three remaining fixtures for both clubs in the 2025 J1 League season.