Tokyo Verdy 1969

vs

Kawasaki Frontale

Preview

Tokyo Verdy (home team)

• Tokyo Verdy are 5th in the J1 East group with 8pts from 5 matches (W2, PK win 1, L2).
• Verdy’s 9 goals scored and 9 conceded in five matches.
• Hiroshi Jofuku has made Tokyo Verdy a tough nut to crack by keeping the team compact, disciplined and working the ball through the thirds when in possession.

Kawasaki Frontale (away team)

• Kawasaki Frontale are 6th with 7pts from 4 games.
• Frontale have scored 8 and conceded 7 so far this term.
• Frontale have a similar, if slightly more free-flowing style with Shigetoshi Hasebe’s men controlling the ball through the midfield, pressing with numbers and getting in behind opposing defenses with vertical runs and clever passing.

Head-to-Head

• Verdy’s record against Frontale suggests that this is anyone’s game with Verdy edging the last five meetings 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.
• Three of the last five games between these sides have been either draws or 1-goal games.

Tokyo Verdy

• Hiroto Taniguchi anchors the defense.
• Koki Morita is the engine of the midfield, dictating tempo and transition.
• Rei Hirakawa is the engine of the midfield, dictating tempo and transition.
• Itsuki Someno is the main goal threat, constantly stretching the opposition’s defense and finding pockets of space behind the full backs.

Kawasaki Frontale

• Erison leads the line and is Frontale’s main goal danger.
• Yuki Yamamoto is a creative midfielder who dictates play in the middle third.
• Kento Tachibanada is a creative midfielder who dictates play in the middle third.

Betting Insights

• The odds suggest that Frontale are favourites at 2.1.
• Verdy and the draw are coming in at 3.4.
• The wiser money is likely to come from the draw or double chance markets given recent tight meetings.

Prediction

• Both can score at 1.77.
• We’re backing a 1-1 draw in the exact score market.