As usual, here are our three things to watch for Matchweek 7...

Who will be in first place?

Kawasaki Frontale currently occupy the top spot of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table, but only by a point. Yokohama F·Marinos and Kashima Antlers are right on their heels, and Kashiwa Reysol are only three points back themselves. Any of the top four could be top of the league by the end of Matchweek 7, so who will it be?

Regardless of who is top after the week, Antlers and Reysol have to be feeling good about their places with two matches in hand on Frontale and Marinos, but they sure would like to make that leap to the top this week.

Can Cerezo stay hot?

Cerezo have won their last two matches, across league and cup competitions, by a combined score of 10-2. That includes a battering of leaders Frontale, so it has been a mighty impressive stretch. Takashi Inui and Hiroto Yamada have scored three goals each in that stretch and now the Sakura find themselves in the top five of the table.

With Reysol on the schedule on Tuesday it’s going to be another stern test for Cerezo, but they have to feel like they can meet any challenge right now.

Will any of the winless clubs break through?

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo are winless on the season, but they are also unbeaten. Consa have drawn all six of their matches, an impressive streak, but one they would surely like to break with a victory. Things are not as rosy at Vissel Kobe and Shonan Bellmare, the two bottom teams in the table.

Vissel are in an especially bad spot, having played eight matches already this season compared to six for most of the league. Four draws is all they have to show for the start of the campaign, which is especially disappointing after a club-best third place finish a year ago. They desperately need to start racking up points.