Imabari FC
- Imabari FC are 19th in the J2 League 2026-2027 table with 11 points from their first 12 games, Ventforet Kofu are 20th with 10, so this is a true basement battle that could have a huge impact on both sides' long-term survival.
- Imabari are in mixed form, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 2 of their last 5 matches, however, their home form has seen them win 1, draw 1 and lose 3 of their first 5 at home in J2.
Ventforet Kofu
- Kofu are in very poor form, with just 1 win in their last 5 and coming into this game on the back of consecutive defeats after a 5-0 thrashing at Iwaki FC and a 0-3 home defeat to Yokohama FC.
- Hiroki Shibuya's men have an intelligent, shapeshifting identity which keeps things compact and can press or sit back and counter.
Head-to-Head
- Yoshikiyo Kuboyama has brought a sense of flexibility to Imabari this season, with his side able to switch between a three- and four-man defensive structure and can play a more forward-thinking, transition-based brand of soccer when the game allows.
- Imabari are the slight favorites here, at 1.95 ahead of Kofu's 3.54, with the draw priced at 3.4.
- However, we feel that the head-to-head edge is the best value play, as Kofu have won 2 of the last 2 meetings and won the last time they faced off in the J2 League 4-2 away in 2025.
- Imabari have the quality to scrape out a win on Saturday, as Kofu have won just 1 and lost 4 of their 5 away games in J2, scoring just 3 goals in the process.
- However, the visitors should have enough to at least stop Imabari from scoring, making the BTTS - No market look a good way to play the short odds.
- A low-scoring game fits the numbers very well, with Under 2.5 looking good at 1.83 alongside BTTS - No at 1.96, which is live.
Key Players
- Imabari FC have scored 7 goals in 5 home games at 1.40 per game, Kofu have scored 3 on the road at 0.60 per game.
- Imabari's Edigar Junio has scored 2 in 8 in J2, while Kofu's Yamato Naito has 4 in 8.
Betting Insights
- Imabari are the slight favorites here, at 1.95 ahead of Kofu's 3.54, with the draw priced at 3.4.
- A low-scoring game fits the numbers very well, with Under 2.5 looking good at 1.83 alongside BTTS - No at 1.96, which is live.
Prediction
- However, with Kofu's compact nature, this matchup could be a tense, tight battle.
- Imabari have the quality to scrape out a win on Saturday, as Kofu have won just 1 and lost 4 of their 5 away games in J2, scoring just 3 goals in the process.
- A low-scoring game fits the numbers very well, with Under 2.5 and BTTS - No presented as the cleaner, conservative options.
