An unexpected defeat for Nagoya Grampus has reined in the J. League's one-horse title race — for now at least — but the competition at the other end of the table is just getting started.
While Nagoya enjoys an eight-point cushion at the top despite Sunday's 4-1 loss to Albirex Niigata, the league's whipping boys have no such room to maneuver. Shonan Bellmare and Kyoto Sanga both look doomed to occupy two of the three relegation spots on 16 points each, but who will join them in J2 next season is anyone's guess.
With eight games left to play, Vissel Kobe currently sit third from bottom on 23 points, one behind FC Tokyo, four adrift of Omiya Ardija, seven away from Vegalta Sendai and nine from Montedio Yamagata. Montedio should logically be home and dry, but then logic tends to count for very little in a relegation dogfight.