While Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale battle to clinch the top seed for the J. League Championship on the final day of the regular season on Thursday, a more decisive tussle will be going on at the other end of the table.
Four teams are in danger of taking the last remaining relegation place going into Thursday's matches, with Nagoya Grampus, Albirex Niigata, Ventforet Kofu and Jubilo Iwata all striving to avoid joining already doomed Avispa Fukuoka and Shonan Bellmare in J2 next season.
Grampus, one of only three clubs — along with Kashima Antlers and Yokohama F. Marinos — to have competed in J1 every season since the J. League was founded, currently occupy the final relegation spot on 30 points, with Albirex leading them only on goal difference. Ventforet are one point better off on 31, while Jubilo, currently on 33, look best placed to survive.
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