Japan’s top division football league, the J1 League 2021 started on February 26, 2021, and will run until December 4, 2021. Unlike the previous editions, this year’s J1 League consists of 20 teams and will have four sides relegated.

The league is set to enter the matchweek 27 and it’s been more or less a two-horse race. Kawasaki Frontale, who are the defending champions, are currently the league leaders after 26 matches with 63 points. The team has lost just one match in the league and has the best defensive record, having conceded just 17 goals so far.

Yokohama F. Marinos are their closest competitor with 62 points. They have been an outright attacking unit as is evident by the number of goals they have scored (60), which is the most by any team in the league.

Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe sit third with 47 points. Teams finishing within the top two places in the J1 League get a direct place in the AFC Champions League group stage, while the third-place team will have to play the qualifiers.

Former Vissel Kobe striker Kyogo Furuhashi is still the top scorer of the league with 15 goals. The 26-year-old Japanese forward moved to Scottish Premiership side Celtic in July on a four-year deal and has already scored six goals in seven appearances for his new team. 

To fill the void, Vissel Kobe signed Yuya Osako from German club Werder Bremen in August. Osako returned to Japan after playing in Germany for seven and a half years. Osako is joined by former Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic and Yoshinori Muto at Vissel Kobe. Interestingly, both Bojan and Muto played together at Mainz in 2017.

Where to watch J1 League live in India?

The live telecast of J1 League 2021 in India will be available on Sony Ten 2 and its corresponding HD TV channel.

The live streaming of J1 League 2021 can be viewed on the SonyLiv app and website.

Featured photo: Twitter / Vissel Kobe