Yokohama F. Marinos
- Yokohama F. Marinos have two wins, two ties, and one loss in their last five competitive games (a 6-0 win at Tokyo Verdy and a 0-1 loss to Kashiwa Reysol).
- Hideo Ōshima’s team have instilled a more structured and pragmatic approach to the game this season, opting to press selectively and in numbers when they are on top of the ball and looking to transition as quickly as possible when they lose it.
- Dean David, Tomoki Kondo and Daiya Tono can all provide a spark of creativity in the central areas and provide excellent support to the lone striker, and regularly feature in the starting eleven.
- Kaina Tanimura is Yokohama’s top scorer this term and remains their primary threat up front, especially after recent key contributions, so he must be watched closely.
Shimizu S-Pulse
- Shimizu S-Pulse are winless in their last five (3 ties and 2 losses), struggling to capitalise on close games.
- Takayuki Yoshida’s side are a different beast altogether with a much more compact approach.
- The Blues set up in a block and look to get numbers behind the ball to make it hard for opponents to break them down, before springing into life in central areas to create overloads and vertical counter-attacks.
- Oh Se-hun is the main man for the Blues up top and is their top scorer this year, but he is a hold-up and aerial target man who will need help from the midfield.
Head-to-Head
- Yokohama F. Marinos have 24 wins, 14 losses and 16 ties against Shimizu S-Pulse since the new millennium (all comps).
- But for both Yokohama F Marinos and Shimizu S-pulse, this is a season-defining game with the aggregate score currently level at 1-1 after the first leg of this two-leg J1 playoff.
Key Players
-
Yokohama F. Marinos:
- Dean David, Tomoki Kondo and Daiya Tono can all provide a spark of creativity in the central areas and provide excellent support to the lone striker, and regularly feature in the starting eleven.
- Kaina Tanimura is Yokohama’s top scorer this term and remains their primary threat up front, especially after recent key contributions, so he must be watched closely.
-
Shimizu S-Pulse:
- Zento Uno, Yudai Shimamoto and Matheus Bueno bring some quality and creativity in the middle of the park and they are well balanced.
- Yutaka Yoshida brings experience and a constant threat from full-back, but his side can lack penetration up front.
- Oh Se-hun is the main man for the Blues up top and is their top scorer this year, but he is a hold-up and aerial target man who will need help from the midfield.
Betting Insights
- Yokohama are 2.32 to win the match and Shimizu S-Pulse 3.01, with the tie coming in at 3.3, so this match looks extremely close and finely balanced.
- Our primary selection is the 1-0 or 2-1 exact score option, as the head-to-head record between these sides leans towards the Yokohama F. Marinos, who are favourites to win anyway.
- Neither side has any major injury problems or suspensions to contend with so expect full-strength squads from both managers.
Prediction
- It wouldn’t be a surprise if a goal apiece is all that is on offer in this game, although it is highly likely that the hosts will nick it in the end and leave the tie up in the air for the second leg.
- This will be a cagey clash with neither side wanting to overcommit, but Shimizu are winless in five and this is a big opportunity for the hosts to take a lead into the second game.
