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J-League Soccer Betting
J-League & Emperor's Cup predictions for Japanese Soccer
Soccerphile.com's team of specialists take a look at matches in the Japanese J-League, Emperor's Cup and Japan's international games in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
Experts on the Japanese game, we offer the best online betting tips for matches in Japan's J-League and the Asian Champions League.
J.League Tips
May 7, 2023
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Avispa Fukuoka - 4th takes on 5th in this intriguing clash. Although it is slightly inaccurate to pin all of their recent success on one man, Brazilian striker Douglas Vieira's form has been sensational. While Swiss target man Nassim Ben Khalifa starts on most occasions, Vieira is making a good claim to replace him, evident from his last-minute winner at Cerezo Osaka last Saturday. Avispa are the surprise package of the season. A well-drilled and well-coached unit under Shigetoshi Hasebe, they snuffed out FC Tokyo's dangerous attack to earn a respectable 1-0 win. Hasebe had stated that Adaílton was the man Fukuoka had to be most cautious with, and his players carried out their plan exceptionally. As both sides push to enter the top three, Soccerphile expects a balanced and cagey affair at the Edion Stadium Hiroshima. 1-1 draw.
Kawasaki Frontale vs Sagan Tosu - Kawasaki endured a tough contest at Kyoto Sanga during Golden Week to ensure a second consecutive victory to get back on track after their lousy start. Kyoto looked to have opened the scoring midway through the second-half thanks to Paulinho Bóia but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Substitute Yu Kobayashi headed in a last-gasp winner to break the hearts of the Sanga faithful. Away side Sagan Tosu were also victorious in Kyoto recently but their defensive frailties have been exposed repeatedly. Sagan took the lead in their most recent match with Yokohama FM on Wednesday after only three minutes, but the reigning champions showed their steel with Yan Matheus impressing recording a brace. While Sagan are yet to come up with solutions for their leaky defence, Kawasaki are making steps on the comeback trail. A home win is on the cards. 2-1.
April 23, 2023
Albirex Niigata vs Kashima Antlers - Albirex were 0-2 down after half an hour in their last league fixture against Avispa Fukuoka. Ryotaro Ito, however, had other ideas. The man who won the J.League Monthly MVP for February and March came up trumps with a splendid second-half hattrick. Niigata have risen to eighth, consolidating its early mid-table presence. Considering Yokohama FC, a team promoted alongside Niigata are rooted at the bottom, this is a reasonably impressive achievement. Away side Kashima would envy Niigata's consistency, as they have not earned a league victory since March 4th. Head coach Daiki Iwamasa must have hoped for a better start to the season after the shrewd re-signings of defenders Gen Shōji and Naomichi Ueda. As the 1-5 drubbing at the hands of Vissel suggests, there is a distinct lack of tactical cohesion at the club and without an efficient striker, significant problems are piling up fast in Ibaraki. A 1-0 home win.
April 22, 2023
Vissel Kobe vs Yokohama FM - The current form of Vissel Kobe is incomparable to that of last season. Key men Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto both bagged a brace in a 5-1 pummeling of Kashima Antlers last Saturday. With an all-Japanese starting lineup, a sense of unity has reemerged after a long period of turmoil. As Takayuki Yoshida emphasises team spirit above all else, foreign individual star qualities such as Andres Iniesta and Matheus Thuler have been pushed to the sidelines, with Iniesta appearing only on the bench in Ibaraki prefecture. Results suggest his Indian (or in this case Japanese) summer perhaps should come to an end, while he can still keep his head held high. Yokohama FM's campaign can be described as solid rather than spectacular. In their last league outing, opponents Shonan Bellmare set up an elaborate press which turned out to be an effective trap. Centre-halves Shinnosuke Hatanaka and Ryotaro Tsunoda struggled all game to find pass lanes into midfield as Shonan were able to produce short counterattacks regularly in their draw. F.Marinos can expect a spell of intense pressure from a Vissel side anticipating to claim the throne of Japan from the reigning champions. 2-2.
April 15, 2023
Sagan Tosu vs Kashiwa Reysol - Sagan have a goalscoring problem this campaign. As they drew blank yet again at Sanfrecce last week, it is clear that the loss of Taisei Miyashiro back to his parent club Kawasaki is causing headaches for head coach Kenta Kawai. This is Kawai's second season at J1 level. Without contributions from the likes of Yuji Ono, of ex-Standard Liege fame, Sagan will probably face a relegation battle. A narrow 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers was Reysol's first victory of the season in all competitions. In what has been a troubling start, Mao Hosoya has been one of the few bright sparks, evident from his winning goal last Sunday. Reysol have announced the signing of centre-back Bueno to turn around their fortunes. The Brazilian is accustomed to Japanese football as he was on the books of four other J. League clubs before the transfer and has also turned out for Chiba Kokusai High School in his youth career. 1-0 home win.
Kawasaki vs Nagoya Grampus - Runners-up Kawasaki have failed to replicate their consistency this season. The Kantō outfit did not register a single goal in five of their last six matches. Bizarrely, in one match they have scored, Kawasaki ended up on the winning side in an entertaining encounter with Sapporo by scoring four goals. Shogo Taniguchi's departure for Qatari side Al-Rayyan SC has destabilized the defence, with increasing reliance on the brilliance of veteran goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong. Taisei Miyashiro, the next in line to replace the legends of Okubo and Yu Kobayashi, currently lacks the cutting-edge to be entrusted for the No.9 position. Opponents Grampus have built solid foundations thanks to the tireless midfielders of Takuji Yonemoto and Sho Inagaki. Their defensive contributions have allowed the likes of Kasper Junker and Mateus Castro to flourish. As Kenta Hasegawa's tactics become more embedded across the board, the individual members have started to shine brighter. There is great optimism at the club that has not been seen in years. 1-1.
April 1, 2023
Kyoto Sanga vs Vissel Kobe - Japan's men national team's two games against Uruguay and Colombia made the cover of most newspapers last week but the remaining domestic players were kept busy by participating in the J.League Cup. While both Kyoto and Kobe have made tremendous starts in the league, their experiences in the cup were wildly contrasting. FC Tokyo avenged their 0-2 loss in Kyoto in early March by hammering their opponents with four of their five goals coming from Brazilians. Vissel Kobe, on the other hand, edged out Yokohama FC who languish at bottom. After a dull first half, Kobe subbed on their big guns after the interval including Andres Iniesta, who made his first appearance of the campaign. Vissel have solid performers in both boxes and have emerged as early contenders for the championship, a trophy still elusive for the Kansai outfit. 1-2 to Vissel.
Yokohama FC vs Avispa Fukuoka - 2023 has not treated Yokohama FC kindly. As a 2-2 draw with Shonan Bellmare being the only match avoiding defeat, pressure is mounting on head coach Shuhei Yomoda. Sunday's game against Vissel Kobe proved Yokohama's attacking potential, as the home side took the lion's share of possession and opportunities. In the end, Yuya Osako tapped in the only goal to condemn them to another loss. Avispa Fukuoka are placed 4th, level on points with champions Yokohama FM. Avispa's strength lies in their sturdiness and efficiency from set pieces. They were 1-3 down for most of the second half in their match at home to Kashiwa Reysol but a 90th-minute Masato Yuzawa leveler ensured the points were equally shared. Avispa have proven to be tricky opposition this season and Yokohama FC will most likely fall to their well-initiated traps. 0-1 away win.
March 12, 2023
Cerezo Osaka vs Sagan Tosu - Urawa Komaba Stadium played host to Reds' first home game of the season for the first time in twenty years last week. In it, Urawa beat a Cerezo side that have started the campaign slowly. Despite taking the lead in the match, the Kansai outfit failed to seize the initiative and extend their advantage. Cerezo's peculiar inertia were punished by Alexander Scholz and Kaito Yasui.
Sagan Tosu were blown away by Shonan on the opening day but have steadily recovered from that shock. Their solid defence which many J. League supporters have become accustomed to seems to be back in order. Park Il-gyu was oftentimes tested in goal by Nagoya Grampus on Saturday but they eventually ground out a win by a slender margin. With neither team gelling in attack, Soccerphile expects a cagey affair. 1-1.
Consadole Sapporo vs Yokohama FM - Sapporo collected their second point of the season after an entertaining clash at Albirex Niigata last week. VFL Bochum's Takuma Asano's younger brother Yuya grabbed a late equaliser with a beautifully curled effort. Sapporo's leaky defence was much improved at Sagan Tosu in the J. League Cup a few days later. However, Consadole will be clear underdogs on this occasion. Though the likes of Élber and Takuma Nishimura are yet to explode this season, Yokohama have scored in every single game so far. The champions' narrow win over Jubilo Iwata midweek showcased their excellent consistency. Marinos fans making the long journey north will anticipate a comfortable away win. 1-3 to Yokohama FM.
March 4, 2023
Vissel Kobe vs Gamba Osaka - It required twelve games for Vissel in 2022 to earn their first league win. This year, however, they sit pretty on top of the J.League with two wins from two matches. New signing Jean Patric has been impressive, evident from his winner on the opening day, but the defence has caught the eyes of the fans so far. Despite being tipped to start the season as reserve players, Tetsushi Yamakawa and Yuki Honda have proven to be as solid as they come with only one penalty goal conceded. Gamba's start has not been as inspiring as their opponents. After a turbulent 2022 season, the Nerazzurri appointed Spaniard Dani Poyatos, who was also on the books of Tokushima Vortis and Panathinaikos at one point. He has shown his shrewdness in the transfer market with the signing of Israeli midfielder Neta Lavi, who already seems to have won the hearts of the Gamba faithful. In a game contested by two tactically cautious teams, a draw is the safest bet. 1-1.
Yokohama FC vs Kashima Antlers - Yokohama FC endured horrid weather and a bizarre own goal from Takuya Wada to eke out a point at Shonan Bellmare last week. After scoring just thirteen seconds into the game, Koki Ogawa proved to be a handful throughout. With minor tweaks in defence, many suspect Yokohama's first win of the season is just around the corner. Antlers, on the hand, defeated Kyoto and then lost to Kawasaki; a logical sequence of results. However, there is a sense of great disappointment after leading 1-0 against ten men Kawasaki only to lose out to a 101th-minute penalty. Ryotaro Araki, who was red-carded for a handball to prevent a goal, and Tomoya Fujii are both unavailable for selection. Gen Shoji, who has already cultivated his legendary status at the club, makes a timely return. 1-2 Kashima win.
February 26, 2023
Kashiwa Reysol vs FC Tokyo - Two consecutive home matches for Reysol to open the season. Promising starlet Mao Hosoya won and subsequently converted the penalty in the dying seconds against Gamba Osaka to draw the game last time out. His sharp movements and intelligent dribbling caused many headaches for the opposition defense. Their adversaries Tokyo got off to an impressive start in their first match thanks to an efficient display against Urawa Reds. The Red and Blue eventually blew down the house that Urawa manager Maciej Skorża built by capitalizing on their opponents' tiredness. The Polish manager instructed a high press strategy but with only a game in, Tokyo's cleverness unmasked Reds' naivety. With Ryoma Watanabe adding depth to their forward line, Tokyo could be a handful for many J.League defenses this season. 1-2 away win.
February 25, 2023
Nagoya Grampus vs Kyoto Sanga - After new signing Kasper Junker poked in from a corner inside five minutes, Nagoya controlled what turned out to be an uneventful match at Yokohama FC. The ｢挨拶代わり｣ goal, as it was described in Japan, was certainly a fine way to introduce himself to his teammates. Kyoto, who survived by the skin of their teeth in the playoffs against Kumamoto last season, have started this season badly. Ryogo Yamasaki, who was once on the books of Nagoya, and Yuta Toyokawa are expected to provide much needed firepower to truly kickstart their 2023 campaign at the Toyota Stadium. Since 2003, Nagoya have not lost to these opponents at J1 level but interestingly, their home record stands at one win and five draws. All of the stalemates have ended 1-1. However, Soccerphile predicts a more comfortable Saturday afternoon for the home side on this occasion. 2-0.
February 18, 2023
Cerezo Osaka vs Albirex Niigata - The return of Shinji Kagawa is the talk of the town in the pink half of Osaka. After a frustrating stint at PAOK, he had what would likely be his final European hurrah with Sint-Truiden in Belgium. Many Cerezo fans were hoping Kagawa would combine with Hiroshi Kiyotake on the opening day but the ex-Sevilla man will sit out because of an injury. Along with Kagawa, Cerezo have strengthened the forward line with Léo Ceará and Jordy Croux, a right winger effective on his left foot. As goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon continues to extend his appearance record as a non-Japanese player since 2009, there is a real sense of optimism at Yodoko Sakura Stadium. J2 champions Albirex embody newly found stability under the guidance of head coach Rikizo Matsuhashi. All of the coaching staff have remained, while there has been little disruption during the transfer season. One of the bigger additions was Shusuke Ota, who excelled for Machida Zelvia last season in the second tier. The star player comes in the form of Thomas Deng, who was included in the 2022 World Cup squad for Australia and captained the national team in the 2020 Olympics. His defensive nous will come in handy as they will be under the cosh for much of the 90 minutes. 2-0 home win.
February 17, 2023
Kawasaki Frontale vs Yokohama FM - Last season's second-best host the champions to kickstart the 2023 season. Frontale have not been particularly active in the transfer window but expect Yusuke Segawa, an acquisition from Shonan and Taisei Miyashiro, a returnee from Sagan, to make an immediate impact. Miyashiro is a livewire who produced eight goals last campaign down in Kyushu. After agreeing to extend his contract, Yokohama head coach Kevin Muscat had to navigate an awkward test against Emperor Cup winners Ventforet Kofu in the Super Cup. Goals from Élber and Takuma Nishimura were enough to see off the plucky J2 outfit. Unfortunately for the Australian, Yokohama have made headlines with its outgoings rather than new signings. Teruhito Nakagawa and Léo Ceará have joined FC Tokyo and Cerezo Osaka respectively. Yohei Takaoka, an instrumental presence in goal, is on the verge of a move to the Vancouver Whitecaps but it is yet to be announced. 36-year-old Hiroki Iikura made the switch from Vissel Kobe but Takaoka's absence will surely be felt in the coming months. For the time being, Powell Obinna Obi may well be handed the responsibility. 1-1.
November 5, 2022
Consadole Sapporo vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Sapporo are probably the most difficult team to predict. They have taken points off Kawasaki, Yokohama FM, and most recently Sanfrecce, who participated in both cup finals. Shinzo Koroki, who scored his 163rd J League goal on Saturday contributed to an impressive 2-1 away win. Shimizu, on the other hand, are in an appalling position. Two points adrift of Kyoto Sanga, anything but a win will secure automatic relegation alongside their rivals Jubilo. As one of the six J.League players picked for his homeland for Qatar 2022, goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda will inevitably have to come up with big saves. As there is nothing on the line for Sapporo whilst survival is at stake for Shimizu, Soccerphile predicts an away win. 1-2.
Vissel Kobe vs Yokohama FM - Losing out the title to Kawasaki for the last two years, Yokohama FM will hope not to let their two-point advantage slip on the final day. Due to their overwhelmingly positive goal difference, a draw should do the trick. For Vissel, it is unfortunate that the last two games of the season came against the top two. Already confirmed survival, Vissel's plan to scupper Kawasaki's push failed last week. It is difficult to see them succeeding this time either. After two surprising home defeats, Yokohama's attack was unleashed to a devastating degree versus Urawa Reds on Saturday. With a J.League title under his belt, perhaps coach Kevin Muscat could shake off his hardman persona and add "a sophisticated tactician" to his résumé. No fireworks on Bonfire Night we go for a 1-1.
October 29, 2022
Gamba Osaka vs Jubilo Iwata - It's a must-win game for Jubilo in this do-or-die battle between the two sides that occupy the automatic relegation spots. Now in charge for two months, Gamba's coach Hiroshi Matsuda's decision to employ new signing Juan Alano on the left wing has proven to be a masterstroke evident from his goal in their win against Yokohama FM. Speaking of winning at the Nissan Stadium, Jubilo's unlikely victory at the league leaders plus the draw in the Shizuoka Derby has given them the slightest of chances of staying up. By hook or crook, Jubilo have to find a way, but this is a bridge too far. 1-1.
Kawasaki Frontale vs Vissel Kobe - Despite the injuries to Jesiel and goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, Kawasaki's late push for their third consecutive title is on thanks to Yokohama's blip. Mainstays Shogo Taniguchi and Akihiro Ienaga have kept their imperious form throughout the campaign and both will no doubt play a crucial role until the end of the season. Vissel's form since the summer has been the best out of anybody and will pose a difficult challenge to a Kawasaki defense saved by the woodwork twice in their last encounter with Kyoto Sanga more than two weeks ago. With three clean sheets on the bounce, Kawasaki could be forgiven for hoping to face a team with less confidence and solidity. 2-1 home win.
October 8, 2022
Jubilo Iwata vs Kashima Antlers - Jubilo have not had much football recently due to the heavy typhoon in Shizuoka last week postponing the derby. They have played just three games in each of the last two months. Although there have been two encouraging 2-2 draws in that timeframe, the fact is being the only team to concede over fifty goals does not bode well. Relegation to J2 for Jubilo is all but confirmed. An ignominious home defeat to Ventforet Kofu in the Emperor's Cup semi-final symbolized Kashima's poor finish to the season with their last league win coming way back on August 14th. Jumma Miyazaki latched on to a long through ball on Wednesday and Kofu's resolute defense repelled all of Antlers' meek attacks. If they are to avoid another humiliation, this is a good place to start for them. 1-1.
FC Tokyo vs Shonan Bellmare - With two wins from two, FC Tokyo are looking upward. So much so that a place in the ACL next campaign is beginning to look like a real possibility. If Sanfrecce are to finish in the top three and win the Emperor's Cup (which is the most likely), that will ensure a qualification berth for the fourth-placed team. FC Tokyo are only three points behind 4th-placed Cerezo in sixth. Shonan are desperate for points for different reasons. Only two points clear of the automatic relegation spots, three consecutive draws have not come in handy and the substandard form of top scorer Shuto Machino has come at the wrong time. Credit goes to Shonan for scraping a point at Cerezo with a 95th-minute equalizer last time out but lucky breaks do not occur regularly, not even for Bellmare. 2-1 to Tokyo.
October 1, 2022
Nagoya Grampus vs Yokohama FM - Recent draw specialists Nagoya have a healthy nine-point advantage over the relegation play-off places meaning another season of mid-table mediocrity is all but confirmed. Yuki Soma made a good 24-minute impression on the national team coach Hajime Moriyasu against Ecuador, giving him more impetus to finish the campaign strongly. Opponents Yokohama are not at their free-flowing best. However, having the capacity to grind out results is a hallmark of a championship-winning team. With no cup competitions to focus on, they are heading straight to the title. 1-2 away win.
Sagan Tosu vs Kyoto Sanga - This will be the fourth meeting between the sides as there were two games played out in the J.League Cup. Sagan's form looked ugly during the summer with two wins in ten but a 3-0 win vs Gamba Osaka has stopped the rot. Sagan do have a goalscoring problem but the recent emergence of 22-year-old Taisei Miyashiro has given them temporary relief as he will return to his parent club Kawasaki at the end of the season. Kyoto's game at the National Stadium last week was significant for having Yoshimi Yamashita as the referee, the first time a woman took charge of a J1 fixture. The defeat condemned them to 16th, meaning a relegation play-off may decide their future next season. With both teams lacking in spark, expect a dour game. 0-0.
September 17, 2022
Kashiwa Reysol vs Kawasaki Frontale - Reysol were known for their efficient counter-attacking tactics earlier this season but have leaked twelve goals in their last three games. Their display against Tokyo was particularly shocking and both of Urawa's center-backs scored last week. Kawasaki are stuttering at the crucial point of the campaign and have allowed Yokohama FM to take charge of the title race. Despite the 1-1 draw with Nagoya on Wednesday, Kawasaki fans were proud of their team for not proposing postponement, unlike their opposition. It means that the Azzurro Nero have a congested fixture list and it is unlikely to see them at their best. 1-1.
Avispa Fukuoka vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Though a close match it may have been, Avispa's 0-1 defeat at Yokohama FM means they occupy one of the two automatic relegation spots. Without a win in the league since July 10th, Avispa are in wretched form with their elimination from the Emperor's Cup adding insult to injury. On the other hand, Shimizu have picked up form in spectacular fashion and have a four-point cushion over Vissel Kobe. Conceding a 96th-minute equalizer last week was a blow no doubt, but Thiago Santana and Takashi Inui have linked up admirably since the latter's transfer from Cerezo. Shimizu have the advantage psychologically. 0-1 to Shimizu.
September 11, 2022
Consadole Sapporo vs Jubilo Iwata - With results in August being a mixed bag, it was a relief for Sapporo to collect late three points vs Cerezo last week. This gives them a three point cushion over the relegation play-off places and they are ambling towards safety. Opponents Jubilo are odds on favorites to go down and a lack of firepower has been letting the team down throughout the campaign. Could the enigmatic Colombian Fabian González come up with something special? 1-1.
September 10, 2022
Vissel Kobe vs Nagoya Grampus - With eight games to go, Vissel are staring into oblivion. Two quick fire goals from Kyoto were simply a bridge too far to overcome and they face a Nagoya side having the second best defensive record. With injuries to Yuya Osako and Andres Iniesta, Kobe are having to rely on players without much experience and this will likely be the undoing of them. 1-1.
July 30, 2022
Vissel Kobe vs Kashiwa Reysol - New Vissel head coach Takayuki Yoshida is yet to see his side lose in five games and there is a real sense of momentum in the Kobe camp. Substitute Yuya Osaka caused havoc last time out in the Kashima defense by scoring a delightfully cushioned header and inviting a second yellow card from Kim Min-tae. With new Montenegrin striker Stefan Mugoša coming through the door from Incheon United, Vissel have added depth to their potent strike force. Opponents Reysol have slowly picked up form and are only a point behind 3rd-placed Kawasaki Frontale. Solidity is the name of the game for Nelsinho Baptista with two 1-0 wins in as many games. An intriguing battle is on the cards with Kobe's attack likely to come on top. 2-1 to Vissel.
Urawa Reds vs Kawasaki Frontale - Two teams who played Paris Saint-Germain last week face off in a crucial encounter. Urawa Reds were given a footballing lesson while Kawasaki showed they were most fit to represent the J-League. Reds' league form is good with no defeats since late May. Along with the dangerous wingers, center-forward Yusuke Matsuo finally registered his first goal this season last time out, no doubt boosting his confidence. With cancellations aplenty due to the spread of Covid in the opponents' camps, Kawasaki have not been in action in the league since July 9, a comprehensive 4-0 home win vs Gamba. Kawasaki have had time to recover at this critical part of the campaign and are rearing to go to regain the top stop that they so desperately crave. 1-2 away win.
July 17, 2022
FC Tokyo vs Jubilo Iwata - FC Tokyo have made a habit of winning and losing big recently, making their 3-0 loss to Reds somewhat unsurprising. The reliance on Brazilian stars in attack is likely to continue and the defense tends to push the self-destruct button. Opponents Jubilo dropped to bottom place last week as Vissel's onslaught spearheaded by Yoshinori Muto was too much for them to handle. Striker Ryo Germain has not had the service he has hoped for which has stumped his progress. Things are going to get worse before they get better for the promoted side. 2-1.
July 16, 2022
Gamba Osaka vs Cerezo Osaka - The fourth installment of the Osaka Derby sees two teams with very contrasting forms. Gamba's tough season got even harder when Antlers comprehensively saw them off in the Emperor's Cup, making it three straight defeats without scoring a goal. The absence of Kohei Okuno, who was sent off in the last league game, leaves few options in the defensive midfield position. Cerezo are still in the hat in the Emperor's Cup and they will be disappointed by letting a two-goal lead slip against league leaders Yokohama FM. Having said that, the form book tends to go out of the window in derby games. 2-2.
July 10, 2022
Nagoya Grampus vs Shimizu S-Pulse - After the infamous 6-1 hammering of Kyoto Sanga, Nagoya's form has dipped to worrying proportions but a 1-0 win at Reysol could kickstart a rebound to cement their place in the top half. Shimizu, on the other hand, replaced Kobe in the bottom spot and have entered further into the relegation mire. A 92nd-minute sucker punch from Yuya Osako shows their inability to hold onto those crucial points they are so desperate for. Thiago Santana has been a reliable source for goals but he is no savior either. 2-1 Nagoya.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Shonan Bellmare - Though chances aplenty, Sanfrecce were outclassed by Yokohama FM's decisive attacks spearheaded by ex-CSKA Moscow man Takuma Nishimura. Coach Michael Skibbe has opted for solidity by not rotating his team but fatigue is creeping in, meaning there is no guarantee they will keep up the pace with this season's big three. Escape artists Shonan defeated relegation rivals Gamba Osaka despite ending the match with ten men suggesting a strongly knit defense. However, collecting points here looks like a tall order for the away team. 1-0 Sanfrecce.
July 2, 2022
FC Tokyo vs Avispa Fukuoka - FC Tokyo's rotten June saw them being dumped out of the Emperor's Cup by Nagasaki and comprehensively losing to Sagan and Bellmare in the league. With the 3-1 win vs Antlers becoming a distant memory, coach Albert Puig must change the tide this week. Once sitting comfortably at mid-table, Avispa are sliding down the standings with three defeats from their last five, with Sanfrecce's substitute Douglas Vieira capitalizing twice last weekend. Fukuoka's slow defense is a major concern but seeing Tokyo's capitulation will give them some encouragement. 0-1 to Avispa.
Sagan Tosu vs Vissel Kobe - Sagan's trashing of FC Tokyo last week proved they are a side not to be taken lightly but their poor away form has distanced them from the ACL places, with a 0-4 defeat at opponents Vissel in May epitomizing their inconsistency. Yuki Kakita's two goals last time out made him the team's top scorer and with starter Taisei Miyashiro underwhelming, it could turn out to be a pivotal moment for the 24-year-old. David Moberg Karlsson's agonizing last-gasp winner last week meant Vissel are still rooted firmly in last place. There is immense apathy surrounding the big Spanish names and instead, players such as Yuya Osako and Koya Yuruki have been carrying most of the burden. With Sagan being a more coherent and solid outfit, a home win is looking likely. 2-1 to the hosts.
June 26, 2022
Kyoto Sanga vs Shonan Bellmare - If there is one word that can sum up Kyoto's campaign so far, it is "inconsistent." Overcoming Kawasaki cannot mask their terrible away form and whilst progressing in the Emperor's Cup is commendable, a 1-6 drubbing at the hands of Nagoya was inexcusable. Wingers Daigo Araki and Yuta Toyokawa are yet to find the back of the net and a lack of diversity in attack is hurting them. Perennial strugglers Shonan have been here before but their league form has seen an upward trajectory and are still within touching distance of safety. Once again, a closely fought battle is to be expected. 1-1.
June 25, 2022
Yokohama FM vs Kashiwa Reysol - The weekend starts with a cracker as Yokohama FM, who sit top at the halfway stage for the first time in 11 years, take on Reysol who condemned Yokohama to their first defeat of the season. F. Marinos suffered an embarrassing cup exit at home to Tochigi SC whilst Kashiwa progressed comfortably. Yokohama are a resilient bunch, however, and they have recorded a win on every occasion after a loss this season. There is a concern at right-back where only Ken Matsubara is available and if not coach Kevin Muscat could hand a debut appearance for 18-year-old Yusuke Nishida. There is very little to separate these two sides and a draw is the safest bet. 1-1.
June 18, 2022
Kawasaki Frontale vs Consadole Sapporo - Firing blanks against Shonan and Kyoto is a worrying sign for champions Kawasaki but the return of Ryota Oshima and Chanathip Songkrasin could revitalize their attack. Consadole also have returnees in the form of Shunta Tanaka and Shinzo Koroki but conceding ten goals in the last two league games cannot be overlooked and extra-time was required in beating Toin University in the Emperor's Cup. Both Toru Oniki and Mihailo Petrović like to stage attacking football, but the man of the hour here is Chanathip who is capable of dazzling the league with his trickery. 2-1 Kawasaki.
Urawa Reds vs Nagoya Grampus - Reds started the campaign with high hopes after their Super Cup win over Kawasaki but since then the league form has been frustrating. Eight draws from their last nine suggests a team struggling to click into gear and find its own identity. Opponents Nagoya have not had the greatest of starts themselves but a 7-1 aggregate win vs Kyoto in the J. League Cup was encouraging with the pace of Sho Inagaki and Mateus potentially causing many headaches for Reds. 1-1.
May 29, 2022
FC Tokyo vs Kashima Antlers - Three consecutive defeats since the start of May undermined Tokyo's ACL dreams but a convincing 3-0 away win at Shimizu has put things back on track. Left-back Ryoya Ogawa's two goals show Tokyo's full-backs pack a punch with the potential of a goal threat. Kashima's ludicrous 4-4 draw with Sagan Tosu saw them take a 94th-minute lead but then an equalizer three minutes later meant they will be disappointed with a draw despite being 3-0 behind initially. Thanks to Kawasaki's defeat, Antlers occupy top spot on goal difference and that will remain the same after Sunday. 1-2 Antlers.
Kashiwa Reysol vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Reysol took advantage of Akito Fukumori's early red card at Sapporo by recording the league's biggest away victory of the season so far. Tomoya Koyamatsu's trickery and Matheus Savio's pace and power were too much for Consadole's defense and had it not been for their generosity, we may have seen an even more emphatic scoreline. Shimizu's sleepy rearguard were picked apart by a clinical FC Tokyo side which does not bode well for the perennial strugglers. It all points towards a comfortable home win. 2-0.
May 22, 2022
Jubilo Iwata vs Consadole Sapporo - Jubilo midfielder Naoki Kanuma's first J1 start turned into a fairytale when he scored an 88th-minute winner against FC Tokyo to make it two consecutive home wins and steer his side away from the relegation spots. A win here and Jubilo will leapfrog opponents Consadole and with their good mixture of youngsters and veterans, there is nothing to suggest otherwise. On the other hand, Consadole were outclassed by Antlers, showcasing Mihailo Petrović's exciting brand of football usually satisfies punters more often than the dedicated fans. 1-1.
May 21, 2022
Cerezo Osaka vs Gamba Osaka - This edition of the Osaka derby will already be the third of the season with both teams having identical records. Last time out Nagoya played the role of party-poopers for Cerezo while Gamba's win at Reysol was unexpected. It is difficult what to make out of Cerezo at the moment with inconsistency being a massive issue. Ex-Sevilla's Hiroshi Kiyotake's poor form also means they are having to rely on inexperienced players such as Hiroto Yamata and Seiya Maikuma in attack. Clean sheets in the last three games point to a brighter future for Gamba and by having Japan international Gen Shoji steading the ship, Cerezo will surely find it hard to break them down. 0-0 or low-scoring draw.
May 14, 2022
Vissel Kobe vs Sagan Tosu - Languishing in bottom place and being the only team in the J.League without a win, Vissel could not have endured a worse start, which makes their qualification for the 2nd round of the ACL all the more remarkable. Head coach Miguel Ángel Lotina fielded an all-Japanese team on Sunday vs Gamba, consigning Iniesta and Bojan to the bench. Without Ryuho Kikuchi in defense due to suspension, the likes of Yuki Horigome could have a field day for Sagan, who scored the only goal in a tight contest against FC Tokyo last week. Though Sagan are the favourites, the onus is on Vissel to pull something out of the bag. 2-1 home win.
Shonan Bellmare vs Yokohama FM - After a plucky 1-0 away win at Gamba last month, there was an expectation to accelerate the momentum at Shonan but two goals and three defeats from their last four games have put that all on hold. With only six goals to their name, the dearth of attacking potency is punishing a leaky defense which has the joint third-worst record along with Shimizu. For Yokohama FM with the enviable task of overcoming Nagoya Grampus, combined with a steady ACL group campaign, things are looking rosy. The Brazilian duo of Anderson Lopes and Marcos Junior are well-established names and an easy away win is on the horizon. 0-2.
May 8, 2022
Kashiwa Reysol vs Urawa Reds - A 2-1 away win at Hiroshima stopped the rot of three consecutive defeats for Reysol, who still sit pretty in 3rd place. Tipped to struggle at the wrong end of the table, the pacey attack containing the likes of Matheus Sávio and Rodrigo Angelotti has proved the doubters wrong and will likely give Reds' backline a hard time. Unlike Kawasaki, Urawa were one of the better second-placed teams and they remain in the hunt for the ACL but the priority, for now, is to distance themselves from the relegation spots. There is a big Nordic contingent these days at the club with David Moberg Karlsson and Kasper Junker playing big roles going forward. Little separates these two right now and a draw is the most likely outcome. 1-1.
May 7, 2022
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kawasaki Frontale - Shimizu's 4-1 win at Bellmare on Tuesday was a tremendous confidence booster for a team known for meandering in the bottom half of the table. Thiago Santana and 20-year-old sensation Yuito Suzuki ran riot and picked apart Shonan's frail defense at ease with precise movement and finishing. Champions Kawasaki were one of the three Japanese teams forced to play 6 ACL group games in 2 weeks and despite the 8-0 thrashing of Guangzhou F.C., they lost the top spot to Malaysian outfit Johor Darul Ta'zim and missed out on qualification for the next round. Frontale have a habit of faring better on the home front, however, and this should be an away win. 2-1 to Kawasaki.
May 3, 2022
Nagoya Grampus vs Kyoto Sanga - With the disappointing loss to Jubilo on Thursday, Grampus seem to have undone all of the good work of the past few season under Kenta Hasegawa. The reliance on individuals in both defense and attack is visible and the habit of conceding late goals could make them a surprising candidate for relegation. The feel good factor at Sanga has somewhat dissipated after a tame 0-1 home loss to Fukuoka, as Kyoto struggled to defend Belgian winger Jordy Croux's excellent deliveries. Both teams are desperate for the points, but Nagoya need it more. 2-1 Grampus.
Kashima Antlers vs Jubilo Iwata - Table toppers Antlers have a great blend of exciting attacking talent and a defense that at times look impermeable. Yuma Suzuki, back from his spell at Sint-Truidense in Belgium, has added more to his game and compliments Ayase Ueda superbly. Jubilo picked up an invaluable win vs Nagoya last out time and their recent form is encouraging. However, considering their aging squad, it is difficult to see them keeping up with Kashima's quick counter-attacks. 2-0 Antlers.
April 29, 2022
Consadole Sapporo vs Shonan Bellmare - Two teams with only one win each battle it out in a contest that looks already important in the relegation dog fight this season. Sapporo's unpredictable yet predictable form of seven draws out of nine sees them mid-table with Slovenian striker Milan Tučić failing to be the figurehead in a team sprinkled with good foreign talent including new signing Gabriel Xavier and Lucas Fernandes. Second-bottom Shonan finally collected their first three points of the season by outpowering a toothless Gamba side, with center-back Shuto Yamamoto's bullet header emblematic of a team lacking everything but fighting spirit. 0-0.
FC Tokyo vs Gamba Osaka - As the results of their last three games suggest, Albert Puig has not made FC Tokyo an entertaining team to watch. Having said that, the current position of 6th place means the emphasis on the defense has borne fruit with Yuto Nagatomo playing right-back. Gamba Osaka's mediocre start sees them faltering in both the league and the YBC Levain Cup, with the 0-1 loss to Shonan in their last league outing heaping more pressure on the shoulders of the head coach Tomohiro Katanosaka, signaling a difficult future ahead of him. 2-0 home win.
April 17, 2022
Kashima Antlers vs Nagoya Grampus - Though the 3-0 home loss to F. Marinos was concerning, Antlers are arguably off to the best start in the league thanks to their solid defense and individual firepower of Yuma Suzuki and especially Ayase Ueda. Ueda is currently neck and neck with our favourite Peter Utaka in the goalscoring charts and his nimble dribbling resembles that of Kaoru Mitoma, who lit up the league as a youngster before his departure to Brighton.
Grampus is exactly the sort of team Kashima would have wanted as three wins from all competitions is underwhelming to say the least. The Brazilian duo of Mateus and new signing Léo Silva can only do so much and its leaky defense must be addressed sooner rather than later. 2-0 home win.
Jubilo Iwata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima - As Jubilo are one of the two newly promoted teams, a sluggish start was to be expected. However, one cannot help but think there are signs that they will be at the bottom end of the table for the whole campaign. Jubilo do not lack in star quality as Yūki Ōtsu, Kenyu Sugimoto and the evergreen 42 year-old Yasuhito Endo bring class but having no shots on target vs bottom side Shonan last week suggests these attacking players are being fed off scraps right now. Sanfrecce have appointed Michael Skibbe as their new manager and with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Greece on his CV, this job may seem to be below his level. However, if the standings is anything to go by, the German will be tested on numerous fronts. With only seven goals to their name, Hiroshima are yet to find the reliable striker that they desperately need to avoid another mid-table finish. 1-1.
April 10, 2022
Vissel Kobe vs Cerezo Osaka - With Kyoto's promotion, the Kansai region has four representatives, and there seems to be a derby every other week at the moment. Vissel's start has been poor and curious in equal measure. With one goal and an assist to his name, Andrés Iniesta looks to be off the pace and new marquee signing Bojan Krkić has made less of an impact. On the other hand, Cerezo's campaign is off to a decent start and are hopeful for an ACL push even though they were exposed by Reysol's counter attacks numerous times last Tuesday. Takashi Inui is the star player by name, but 20 year-old center-back Ryuya Nishio holds the fort to take them to the next level. 1-1 draw.
Kyoto Sanga vs Sagan Tosu - In Kyoto, the evergreen Peter Utaka is king and he has continued to defy the odds and show that age is just a number after all. Considering that they are a newly promoted team, Sanga have proved that they are no pushovers unlike some other catastrophic J1 seasons we have seen over the years. Kyoto can learn a lot from Sagan's clever transfer policy and youth development as they have cemented their place at the top table with a modest budget. Renowned for its tight defense, the first seven games have yielded five draws but Sapporo were hammered 0-5 this midweek with the highlight being Naoyuki Fujita's splendid piledriver. This Sagan team is far too crafty for the naive Purple outfit. 2-1 to Sagan Tosu at Sanga Stadium.
December 4, 2021
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Cerezo Osaka - S-Pulse, Vortis and Bellmare are in a three-way dogfight to avoid the drop to J2. S-Pulse only need a draw whereas Vortis and Bellmare have to win to give themselves any chance of staying up. S-Pulse at home to Cerezo should have enough to stay up but Cerezo have won their last two and S-Pulse will be nervous. 1-1.
Tokushima Vortis vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Vortis gave themselves a fighting chance of beating the drop with last weekend's 0-1 win over fellow strugglers Bellmare. Sanfrecce are in a terrible run of form and have appointed former Greek national team manager Michael Skibbe as their coach for next season. Home win.
Gamba Osaka vs Shonan Bellmare - Bellmare were affected by the sudden death of Brazilian midfielder Riuler de Oliveira Faustino, aged only 23, before their loss to Vortis last time out. Gamba have lost their last two but will not want to make that three in front of their own fans after what has been a disappointing season. Difficult to predict, this could go either way. Draw.
November 27, 2021
Urawa Reds vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Mixed with disappointing results at Vissel and Antlers, Reds have had a reasonably strong end to the season. The experience of Daigo Nishi and Takahiro Sekine has come in handy but summer signing Ataru Esaka has been a real game-changer. His creative finesse and swagger were key in Michael Olunga's explosion at Reysol last year and the difference in quality going forward for Reds is clear to see since his arrival. S-Pulse picked up what looked like a season-defining victory vs Hiroshima last week and they are in pole position to take the spot just above the dreaded line. The wildcard in this team is Noriaki Fujimoto, who was signed on-loan from Vissel after an underwhelming spell in Kansai. But if he were to regain his great form from his Trinita days, his nimbleness and sharpshooting could fire Shimizu to safety with a game to spare. 3-1. Get on it's a great bet.
Vissel Kobe vs Yokohama F. Marinos
It's 3rd vs 2nd in this tasty late-season clash as a win for Kobe would keep their slim hopes of leapfrogging the visitors with two games to go. Yuya Osako, who led the line for Werder admirably for three seasons, has started his Vissel career like a house on fire and has seamlessly filled Kyogo Furuhashi's metaphorically big shoes. The form is certainly with the home team, which is somewhat bizarre considering Marinos' 8-0 win but they have lost three of the four games by a one-goal margin. Yokohama have picked up a bad habit of conceding early goals and having to climb big mountains afterwards. If they are to keep the likes of Osako at bay, midfield enforcer Takahiro Ogihara and Brazilian centre-back Thiago Martins will be key. Famous hard-man Kevin Muscat's managerial quality is not to be questioned but if Yokohama slip up and end 3rd, it will make fellow Aussie Ange Postecoglou's achievements just that more impressive. 2-2. Bet now.
November 20, 2021
FC Tokyo vs Tokushima Vortis - If two teams are itching to see the end of the international break, then it is FC Tokyo and Vortis. Tokyo inexplicably collapsed to an 8-0 defeat at F. Marinos, conceding a hat-trick to the league's top marksman, Daizen Maeda, who surprisingly had no involvement for the Samurai Blues despite being called up to the squad. After an impressive 3-0 win against Sagan in early October, Vortis have dropped points in crucial games vs Yokohama FC and Trinita, meaning they occupy the last relegation spot 3 points adrift of S-Pulse with just three games remaining. Both teams are low on confidence and not much should be expected in quality. The incentive is on Vortis, however, and they will sneak a win. 1-2.
Kashima Antlers vs Oita Trinita - Kashima have a knack for finishing their campaigns strongly and it is no different this time around. The win over Reds in a hard-fought game now means they have leapfrogged Grampus to take 4th place. Ayase Ueda has been the star of the show but it was the experience of Shoma Doi providing the winner last time out. Despite taking the lead twice, the dramatic home loss against Gamba has heaped more misery on Trinita, who now require a minor miracle to survive this season. As has been the case so many times, the lack of firepower has added more pressure on the defence which has cracked significantly in recent weeks. They have the Emperor's Cup semi-final to look forward to after the league season, but right now it looks more like a distraction than a celebration. 2-0 home win.
November 7, 2021
Sagan Tosu vs Kawasaki Frontale - After wrapping up their back-to-back title for the second time, Kawasaki affirmed their domestic dominance. Though Wednesday's performance was somewhat disappointing, it is unlikely to see them stumble through to the finish line. On the other hand, Sagan are ending the campaign with a whimper. They have amassed three points from the last possible 18 and have scored just one. Two 3-0 away losses to newly promoted teams has done nothing to raise their morale and another battering could be on the cards here at home in front of the faithful at Tosu Stadium. The loss of Daichi Hayashi's goals in August has proven to be seriously damaging. 3-0 to Kawasaki.
Shonan Bellmare vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima - As expected, Shonan are in a relegation battle and as always, just above the dreaded line of 17th. 20-year-old Kosei Tani continues to impress in goal and was called up to the Japan squad again for the excursions to Vietnam and Oman. Shonan have a knack for producing exciting young talent and that was evident when Taiyo Hiraoka bagged his first-ever J1 goal to equalize in Sapporo on Wednesday. Sanfrecce's players have already had their flip flops out and there is nothing to play for them. Though new coach Kentaro Sawada will be eager to collect three points for the first time but will the players be on the same page as him? 2-0 home win.
October 24, 2021
Nagoya vs Vissel Kobe - Grampus were absent in the league last week because of their disastrous excursion to Pohang, a game that finished 3-0 to the home side. Considering they are still in both cups (both games vs Cerezo), it was no surprise to see them run out of gas in one of the competitions. New signing Jakub Świerczok has been firing on all cylinders and Shinnosuke Nakatani has led the defence solidly. 3rd-placed Vissel's form has been excellent and they have every chance of avenging their Emperor's Cup loss to Grampus back in August. Along with the usual suspects of Osako and Iniesta, Bojan has entered the ranks to cause more headaches for opposition defenders. 2-1 to Vissel.
October 23, 2021
FC Tokyo vs Kashima Antlers - Since the 4-0 hammering of Yokohama FC, Tokyo's form has been disappointing, to say the least. Outclassed by both Reds and Kawasaki and then to be dumped out of the J. League Cup after conceding a late goal makes the climax of the season rather bland and unexciting. Adaílton is the shining light of this campaign and Antlers will be mindful of his goalscoring prowess. 5 of the last 6 games for Antlers were at home but they will be thankful for being on the road this week as defeats to Avispa and Yokohama FC were surprising considering their purple patch during the summer. Ayase Ueda has scored 3 in the last 2 matches. 1-1. Get on.
October 16, 2021
Yokohama FC vs Tokushima Vortis - Huge game at the bottom as last-placed Yokohama face Vortis occupying the final spot of safety. Yokohama are finally showing their metal as the win at Antlers was impressive. Saulo Mineiro and Ryo Germain, who has an American father, have recently found the goal-scoring touch but Svend Brodersen will be crucial in goal. Vortis have won the last two and blew away Sagan last time out. Yuki Kakita got a brace on this occasion, and if his stats of 17 goals in 42 games in the 2nd tier last season is anything to go by, he may have made the substantial leap at the best time possible. 1-1
Yokohama FM vs Consadole Sapporo - This is Marinos' first home game in 6 weeks and a crowd of at least 15,000 is expected as Covid restrictions loosen. During the travels, their form was a mixed-bag as 2 wins and a loss was hardly satisfactory to keep up with the locomotive train that is Kawasaki. With the focus now on cementing 2nd place, they face a Consadole side whose recent results have been bizarre, to say the least. As the last two games for Marinos are against Kawasaki and Vissel, they will want to collect points steadily in this period and with Daizen Maeda leading the Golden Boot race, a home win is the likely outcome. 3-1
October 2, 2021
Vissel Kobe vs Urawa Reds - 4th vs 5th. Vissel's form in the league has improved dramatically from last season but Kawasaki showed who's boss with their 3-1 win midweek. Thomas Vermaelen conceded an embarrassing own goal in that game signifying that team ethic overcomes famous personnel. After a shoddy start, Urawa have steadily picked up pace. With the J-League Cup Semifinals coming up straight after this fixture, Reds have a demanding schedule ahead. Former Marseille's Hiroki Sakai made headlines by scoring his first J-League goal vs FC Tokyo after a 9 year hiatus. Form is with Reds. 2-1 Urawa.
October 3, 2021
Trinita vs Cerezo - Trinita's season has gone as well as people had expected: badly. Being the lowest scorers in the league, it was no surprise to see them firing blanks again at Grampus last time out. Oita have given Shun Nagasawa the goalscoring mantle and it's now or never for the 33 year-old veteran to prove himself again at this level. As for Cerezo, the excitement that came with Takashi Inui's arrival has somewhat dissipated after 4 defeats in 5 in all competitions. Cerezo are mired in mid-table obscurity this season and the end of the campaign looks rather anticlimactic, though a passage to the final of the J-League Cup final would swing the mood big time. 1-1 - get on!
September 25, 2021
Avispa vs Sagan Tosu - Two teams that have performed above expectations. Since the 1-0 defeat to Nagoya, Avispa have picked up wins vs Kawasaki and Antlers. Look out for the journeyman Juanma as he scored twice in the famous at Antlers and converted a penalty in his last outing. Tosu's form is good but a 0-0 home draw against Trinita was disappointing. Relying on Eduardo's great free-kicks is not sustainable to say the least. 1-0 home win.
September 26, 2021
Kawasaki vs Bellmare - There are two Kanagawa derbies this week and Frontale are hot favourites as always. Despite the setback of being dumped out of the ACL by Ulsan, it has been plain sailing at home with 2 wins from 2 since then. Survival artists Shonan grabbed an important point vs Avispa by equalising in the 96th minute. Brazilian Wellington could play a decisive role coming off the bench. 3-1 Kawasaki.
September 18, 2021
S-Pulse vs Vegalta - Another huge game at the bottom because it is 16th vs 18th (relegation from 17th downwards). S-Pulse lost to Sagan last week but Thiago Santana looked dangerous. Vegalta won 3-2 at Gamba in an entertaining match. I guess most eyes will be on the keepers because Vegalta have Jakub Słowik, who is one of the best and Shimizu have Shūichi Gonda who played both of the World Cup qualifiers for Japan. We are going for 1-1.
FC Tokyo vs Yokohama FC - FC Tokyo's form has been stop and start and Yokohama are bottom. It will be scrappy and frustrating to watch. Tokyo's coach Kenta Hasegawa hasn't been able to imprint his ideals that made Gamba treble winners in 2014 and the team have been floundering in mid-table for the last 2 years or so. Yokohama are relying on a couple of veterans but they are not the ones that you think of. Masahiko Inoha is a 36 year-old centre back and is known for his year-long spell at Hajduk Split. Hideto Takahashi is a 33 year-old holding midfielder. This is his 4th club in his career. We are going with a 2-1 home win.
September 11, 2021
Oita v Shonan - Bottom against 15th in a classic 6 pointer and especially important for Trinita. The last win for Trinita in the league was July 10th vs Reds. They are also the lowest goal-scorers in the league with just 18. They have constantly changed forwards but Yuto Misao has been ever-present in defence. Shonan have a reputation for being the league's escape artists but their form is poor except for that 5-1 win vs Cerezo. Tarik Elyounoussi, who is the cousin of Southampton's Mohamed, has to start scoring soon enough. we think this will be a narrow 2-1 away win.
Sanfrecce v Yokohama FM - Hiroshima have won just one of their last seven league games (the only win was a hammering vs Trinita). They are 10th and have cemented their mid-table status just like they have done for the last few years. Junior Santos is their top goal scorer with just seven goals meaning they have a problem going forward. Yokohama FM have rocketed up the table during Kawasaki's mini slump and are now 4 points behind them in 2nd place. Daizen Maeda, who is ex-Marítimo in Portugal, has got 14 league goals and is joint second in the rankings. Their form is excellent but ignore the 2-0 defeat to Antlers last time out. We are going with a 2-1 away win.
August 28, 2021
Consadole Sapporo v Kawasaki Frontale - Kawasaki lost their first match of the season last time out at Avispa Fukuoka. Veteran Jay Bothroyd still leads the line for Sapporo who lost at home to Grampus in midweek. Watch out for Ryota Aoki for Sapporo for goals from deep. For Kawasaki, though Mitoma has left for Brighton in the Premier League, former Mallorca midfielder Akihiro Ienaga, still chips in with assists and goals. Away win 0-2.
Gamba Osaka v Cerezo Osaka - the latest installment of the Osaka derby sees both teams mired in mid-table level on points. This is the first of three meetings of the teams as they meet in home and away ties in the League Cup. Gamba have struggled for goals all season, only cellar dwellers Trinita have scored less. Brazilian Tiago Alves has been brought in to try and improve the offence. Cerezo's last game was a shock 1-5 home loss to Bellmare. 1-1 draw is our prediction.
August 22, 2021
Nagoya Grampus v Avispa Fukuoka - 6th placed Nagoya have performed well in the ACL but their domestic form has dropped off as a result of their continental exertions. Avispa are in 10th but have more or less ensured their survival after promotion from J2 last season. Swedish right back Emil Salomonsson and Douglas Grolli anchor the Avispa backline. 1-0 to the Grampus.
August 21, 2021
Kashiwa Reysol v Sagan Tosu - 10 man Kashiwa held out last week for a surprising home draw with leaders Frontale after centre back Takumi Kamijima was sent off on the hour. Brazilian Pedro Raul leads the line now for Reysol and is their main hope for goals. Tosu, now fourth, have lost their last two games in all competitions. We think Tosu might sneak this, though, for a narrow away win.
August 15, 2021
Yokohama FM v Oita Trinita - Second top against second bottom. William Popp Oita's keeper should be busy and needs to be on top form for his team to get anything from this game. Yokohama's last league defeat was in mid-May against Antlers. Kenyu Sugimoto on loan from Reds scored in his last game against Nagoya. We can predict nothing other than a home win.
Kashima Antlers v Tokushima Vortis - Fifth top against fifth bottom. Antlers started the season slowly but their form has been improving slowly including an 8-1 win in the Emperor's Cup. Centerback Tomoya Inukai scored a last-gasp winner against Shonan Bellmare in Antlers' last game. Vortis are just outside the relegation zone two points above the drop. They beat Gamba in their last match 2-1 at home. Comfortable home win.
May 30, 2021
FC Tokyo v Sanfrecce - Sanfrecce won on their last away fixture beating Cerezo in the Kansai. The teams are separated by four points but FC Tokyo don't do many draws and are in a middling run of form. We have a feeling that Sanfrecce will come away with all 3 points.
May 23, 2021
Cerezo v Sanfrecce - Cerezo and Sanfrecce are both midtable separated by only a point in 9th and 10th positions. Both teams are in a poor run of form. The player to watch is centreback Dankler for Cerezo. The powerful Brazilian played for Vissel Kobe until last season and has started the last 3 games. He is tasked with rebuilding Cerezo's defence. He has good experience at this level. Still, we think Sanfrecce will still edge this tight encounter 0-1.
May 15, 2021
Sanfrecce v Tokushima Vortis - Sanfrecce are mid-table just like last season but earned a morale-boosting win against Gamba in midweek. We'd like to shout out Júnior Santos for assisting the winner with the outside of his right boot in that game. His two previous clubs are Yokohama F.Marinos and Reysol. Vortis are doing a lot better than we had anticipated. Though they lost Ricardo Rodríguez (who was the manager last season, winning promotion) to Reds and have lost the last four league games, survival is the only objective and it's so far so good on that score. Draw maybe but more likely a narrow home win.
May 16, 2021
Kawasaki v Consadole Sapporo - Kawasaki are still unbeaten and still great but did draw to Vegalta last time out. (It was a last-minute equalizer from Vegalta as well). Yu Kobayashi scored in that game and though Mitoma and Damião are the stars going forward, he might play a big role as the ACL will start soon enough and the fixture pile-up becomes imminent. Consadole won this fixture 2-0 last season and that was a pretty famous win. They are unbeaten in their last 5 in all competitions but none of them were tough opponents and it will be surprising if Kawasaki slip again. Home win.
May 9, 2021
Avispa Fukuoka v Kashiwa Reysol - Avispa have been quite the surprise package this season and have a nice blend of Japanese and foreign players. Swede Emil Salomonssen has been ever present and has a great engine. Reysol are improving gradually but miss departed Kenyan striker Michael Olunga. They beat Tokushima 5-1 recently but that was an anomaly among lots of low-scoring games. Home win.
Kashima Antlers v FC Tokyo - Antlers' season has been poor by their standards but they are undefeated for a month. 19-year-old Araki Ryotaro has been a shining light at number 10. FC Tokyo are prone to collapse like a pack of cards in crucial games as was the case against Yokohama F. Marinos. They are on a 4-game losing streak. Make that five after this one. Home win.
May 2, 2021
Shonan Bellmare v Consadole Sapporo - Sapporo are only a place above Bellmare but they won last time out against Sendai and have more firepower. Bothroyd scored the winner after a long time out. Anderson Lopez is the striker to watch though. Narrow away win.
Cerezo v Gamba - Gamba's start to the season was hampered by Covid-19 in the squad. Cerezo are fifth and have a decent attack. At the back 19-year-old Nishio Ryuya has been ever-present and helped the team to several clean sheet. There will be no spectators but we are going for a home win, nonetheless.
April 25, 2021
Urawa Reds v Oita Trinita - Reds are still reeling from that 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Kawasaki but Trinita's season has been even worse. Sugimoto Kenyu, the Reds' number 9 has been hit and miss this season but did score twice in the League Cup in midweek. Home win.
Shimizu S-Pulse v Shonan Bellmare - Both sides have had mediocre starts to the season. They are 14th and 13th in the table respectively both with 10 points. 18 year old Tanaka Satoshi is a great prospect for Shonan and scored recently against Hiroshima. Bellmare have a solid defence and this could be a low-scoring draw.
April 18, 2021
Gamba Osaka v Shimizu S-Pulse - One time powerhouse Gamba are struggling but their midweek win at Sagan Tosu may kick start their faltering season. Gamba need the points to climb out of the relegation zone and we predict a narrow win. 1-0.
Nagoya v Sagan Tosu - Nagoya have started the season in excellent form, Tosu travel to central Japan after last weekend's routine win at home against cellar dwellers Yokohama FC followed by a disappointing home loss to struggling Gamba in midweek. Home win.
April 11, 2021
FC Tokyo v Kawasaki Frontale - FC Tokyo are at home at Ajinomoto Stadium but it doesn't matter to Frontale. Home or away defending champions and league leaders Kawasaki are a machine. Shogo Taniguchi at the back always keeps things tight so this should be a nailed-on away win.
Sagan Tosu v Yokohama FC - After a bright start the wheels are coming off a little bit for Tosu after two successive 1-0 losses. Yokohama are rock bottom with only one point so far in a miserable campaign. Home win as Tosu get back on track.
April 4, 2021
Shimizu S-Pulse v Tokushima Vortis - neither team is in particularly good form. Vortis are not very secure at the back and neither are Shimizu. This could be 2-1 or 3-2 to the home team. In goal for Shimizu is Shuichi Gonda who has represented Japan at the 2012 Olympics.
March 21, 2021
Sagan Tosu v Avispa Fukuoka - the Kyushu derby with Sagan riding high and yet to concede a goal. Tosu are favorites but we have a sneaking feeling this might be a low-scoring draw, possibly even a 0-0.
March 21, 2021
Urawa Reds v Kawasaki Frontale - champions Frontale are a machine and Urawa are languishing in 12th. Wonderkid Kaoru Mitoma is making waves and Leandro Damião scored 20 goals last season. Things are looking up for the Brazilian striker after a difficult start to his time in Kawasaki. Red are struggling for goals. 0-2.
March 17, 2021
Sagan Tosu v Kashiwa Reysol - though lacking star quality Tosu are solid at the back and unbeaten so far. Reysol are struggling for form and we don't see them getting anything from their long trip to Kyushu. 2-0.
March 13, 2021
Vissel Kobe v Nagoya Grampus - this looks a tight match on paper as fourth plays third. Nagoya are very solid at the back and won on the road in Kashiwa in midweek. Vissel have high hopes for a successful season after the disappointments of the last campaign. We think this will end in a stalemate.
March 13, 2021
Shimizu S-Pulse v Sagan Tosu - Both teams have had good starts to the season especially Tosu who are riding high in second with a 100% record. Can they make it four out of four? We think they can - away win but it will be close.
March 6, 2021
Tokushima Vortis v Vissel Kobe - newly promoted Vortis take on Vissel still with foreign stars Andres Iniesta and Thomas Vermaelen in their ranks. Last season's J2 winners Vortis drew their opening match while Vissel won at home against Gamba. It will be tight but we predict a narrow win for Vissel.
March 7, 2021
Yokohama FM v Sanfrecce - 9th and 8th in last season's competition this game has draw written all over it. 1-1.
Past Predictions
October 4, 2020
Urawa Reds v Nagoya Grampus - only three points separate these two mid-table teams. A draw is a possibility as Nagoya are fairly solid at the back. We are going for a narrow home win.
Yokohama FM v Vissel Kobe - former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will pick his wits against managerless Kobe after Thorsten Fink's recent resignation. 2-1 is our prediction.
September 27, 2020
Shonan Bellmare v Kawasaki - run away leader Kawasaki should be too strong in an evening kick off against struggling Bellmare. Away win.
Sanfrecce v Gamba Osaka - both teams are locked in mid-table. Hiroshima are at home but this one seems bound for a draw. 1-1
November 28, 2015
Urawa Reds v Gamba Osaka - Urawa Reds were only two points behind Hiroshima overall but we have a feeling Gamba will win.
October 17, 2015
Albirex Niigata v Matsumoto Yamaga - A "Japan Alps" derby with both teams needing the points as they are both near the bottom. Niigata should win at home though it will be close, 1-0.
September 26, 2015
FC Tokyo v Matsumoto Yamaga - FC Tokyo should win this at home as Matsumoto continue to struggle in their first season in J1.
September 12, 2015
Albirex Niigata v Yokohama F. Marinos - Yokohama are on an excellent run of four wins on the spin. Look for them to make that five in Niigata.
July 26, 2015
Kawasaki Frontale v Shimizu S-Pulse - Kawasaki are 6th in the Second Stage standings while S-Pulse are 17th. Kawasaki are inconsistent and lack a cutting edge with Okubo out of sorts up front. Kawasaki to edge the game 2-1 despite the efforts of new signing of Jong Tae-se.
Vegalta Sendai v Kashima Reysol - Vegalta are rock bottom in the Second Stage and shaky at the back. Kashima Reysol are riding high following two successive 1-0 wins. On paper Reysol are the favorites and should win. Prediction 0-1.
July 19, 2015
Shonan Bellmare v Venforet Kofu - Venforet have recovered somewhat after a very bad start to the season. Shonan's form is mixed. Draw.
July 11, 2015
Kawasaki Frontale v FC Tokyo - The so-called "Tamagawa Classico" should be a home win, despite Kawasaki's thrashing at the hands of Dortmund in a friendly. Muto has moved to Mainz meaning Tokyo might lack for inspiration.
June 27, 2015
Ventforet Kofu v Kashiwa Reysol - Venforet have turned around after a poor start to the season. Reysol seem to be suffering a hangover from their ACL exploits. Venforet have won four out of five and we expect them to add another win especially with striker Bare in great form.
June 20, 2015
Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Montedio Yamagata - Yamagata are struggling at the wrong end of the table. Second-placed Hiroshima should win comfortably - 2-0 home win.
June 14, 2015
FC Gifu v Consadole Sapporo - FC Gifu are beginning to struggle after a decent season last year under coach Ruy Ramos. Gifu now lie third from bottom of J2 and it is difficult to see anything other than three points for the visitors at Nagaragawa. Away win 0-2.
May 30, 2015
Shonan Bellmare v Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Shonan have improved in recent weeks and are in the top half. Sanfrecce are second and seemingly back to their best. Away win.
May 23, 2015
Matsumoto v Yokohama F Marinos - the home team are picking up some momentum now in their first season in J1. Yokohama have won their last three league games and we predict a narrow away win.
May 16, 2015
Nagoya Grampus v Sagan Tosu - Nagoya looked poor in defeat to Kawasaki last time out and we predict more woe for Akira Nishino's side.
JEF United v Zweigen Kanazawa - over in J2 second place JEF take on third place Zweigen. JEF are undefeated in four matches and will face a strong challenge from newly promoted Kanazawa. Put your hard earned yen on a draw.
May 10, 2015
Yokohama F Marinos v Albirex Niigata - the home side should take this game in a close match. Yokohama beat Nagoya last time out and Niigata are not firing on all cylinders so far.
May 2, 2015
FC Tokyo v Kawasaki Frontale along with the Reds FC Tokyo have the best defence in the J-League. FC Tokyo should win behind a 2-1 scoreline.
April 25, 2015
Kawasaki Frontale v Venforet Kofu no joy here for the visitors who have won only one in six games. Okubo Yoshito is closing in on becoming the all-time J-League leading scorer.
April 18, 2015
Yamagata Montedio v Matsumoto Yamaga sees second from bottom against third from bottom. Last season in J2 both games ended in bore draws 0-0. We are going for goalless again this term.
April 11, 2015
Kawasaki Frontale v Urawa Reds already this match is looking like an important game in the title race. Kawasaki's speedy defence take on a Reds' defence that have only conceded once this season. Reds to edge this 0-1.
April 4, 2015
Urawa Reds v Matsumoto brings together two of the most passionate sets of fans in the league. Reds are still unbeaten in the league and should be too good for promoted Matsumoto.
March 22, 2015
Grampus v Kashima Antlers two "original 10" teams meet at Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. Kashima have yet to win a match this season in any competition. Grampus to edge it. Kawamata Kengo to score.
March 14, 2015
Kashima Antlers v Shonan Bellmare Shonan won the J-2 title last season with a record points tally but came down to earth last weekend 1-3 at home to Urawa Reds. Home win, 2-0 to increase Bellmare misery.
Saturday, September 15th, 2014
Hiroshima - Sendai The match of the weekend. Sendai leads by a single point over Hiroshima. The two top teams are tantalizing close in the standings and other stats. In terms of goal difference, Sendai is one goal ahead of Hiroshima; no other team is even close. At home, anything but a win will disappoint the Hiroshima faithful - we like the home side...but just.
Saturday, May 13
Kofu - Kawasaki Even away, even without Ganaha out on suspension, Kawasaki will win.
Saturday, April 14
Niigata - Gamba Osaka Gamba was lucky to get a draw last weekend. Away at Niigata, Gamba will lose.
Saturday, April 7
Urawa Reds - Jubilo Iwata Urawa is struggling but still way too strong at home for Jubilo. A win.
Sunday, April 1
Yokohama FC - Nagoya Grampus Will the deep pockets of Toyota bring a championship to Nagoya? Off to a great start, Nagoya will win on the road against hapless Yokohama side.
Thursday, October 23
Kyoto - Iwata At home against a once great side. Three matches left in the season. Last place Kyoto has to win to have any chance of avoiding relegation. They won't. A win for Jubilo, though Kyoto will outshoot and have most of ball possession.
Saturday, October 7
Urawa - Chiba Must win match for both teams. Urawa too good at home.
Sunday, October 1
C-Osaka - Kashima A shocker: at home Cerezo to tie or win.
Saturday April 15th
Yokohama - Gamba The match of the week. In Yokohama, will Gamba have the mettle to win? Gamba squeaked out a win at home last week; Yokohama got squeaked by Omiya away. Gamba to win.
Saturday March 11
Kyoto - Kawasaki The first J1 home match for Kyoto in three years. They will lose to a strong Kawasaki side.
Saturday, November 26
Gamba - JEF Even at home, Gamba to lose. Without Araujo and Masashi Oguro still questionable--and a JEF that must win--it will be a long day for Gamba.
Reds - Jubilo In front of their faithful, the Reds will get 3 points.
Marinos - Cerezo Cerezo has to win. A very tough call. A draw.
Sunday, November 20
Oita - Kashima A draw for struggling Kashima.
Cerezo - Frontale With Kawasaki forward Marcus out of the match on suspension, a big win at home for Cerezo--even with its own bevy of players out to suspension.
Saturday, October 29
Kyoto Purple Sanga - Hollyhock An easy win for Kyoto at home, and the champagne corks will fly.
Sunday, October 16
JEF - Marinos Yokohama to continue its slide with a loss to JEF.
Sunday, October 2
S-Pulse - Gamba Even without Sidiclei and Yasuhito Endo--both out on suspension--Gamba to win easily, picking up three key points.
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