LiontipsHiroshima vs Sapporo. Japan Championship match prediction and bets
Command Analysis
Current form
Hiroshima are still fighting for the title, but are still behind the current champions, Vissel Kobe. The hosts are in third place, as Machida Zelvia won their match yesterday. Now it up to Hiroshima. The team is the most productive in the league with 66 goals in 36 matches. However, in recent matches, Michael Skibbe men have started to lose points too often. In recent J. League matches, the club lost to Shonan (1:2), Kyoto (0:1) and Urawa (0:3). In the last match of the Asian Champions League 2, the hosts played a draw with Kaya (1:1).
Disqualifications and injuries
Diego Vieira and Taiichi Yamasaki are out with injuries, while Ezequiel is in doubt.
Interesting trends for betting
- The team lost three matches in a row in the Japanese championship
- At home, the hosts have won four of their last five matches
Estimated lineup: Osako - Nakano, Araki, Sasaki - Arai, Kawabe, Shiotani, Higashi - Matsumoto, Arslan - Kato
Current form
The current season has been a failure for Sapporo - the team is leaving the top division. With two rounds left in the season, the club is in penultimate place in the standings, and the gap from the safe zone is already seven points, so the results of the remaining matches will not change anything. After a victory over Nagoya Grampus (2:0), the visitors tied with Cerezo Osaka (1:1) and Shonan (1:1), and the club suffered its last defeat from the contender for the bronze medals, Gamba Osaka (1:2).
Disqualifications and injuries
Goalkeeper Shun Takagi will miss the upcoming match. The appearance on the field of Yui Asano, Tatsuya Hasegawa, Katsuyuki Tanaka is questionable.
Interesting trends for betting
- The team has suffered only one defeat in its last six matches.
- Four of the last five head-to-head matches ended in a draw
Estimated lineup: Sugeno - Baba, Osaki, Okamura, Pak - Kondo, Komai, Arano, Suga - Suzuki, Aoki
Trends
Bet Exact score 2:1
The hosts have won two of their last three games by that score.
9.00Bet Both Teams to Score
This bet has played in three of the last four away matches
1.82Bet Number 1 in the final score
This pattern has worked in 6 of the hosts' last 7 matches
1.90Tip and bets
The hosts have been showing extremely weak results in recent matches of the championship. This is partly due to the pressure around the championship race, partly due to participation in continental competitions. The fact remains that the team has suffered three defeats in a row in the championship, and has recently been winning only in the Champions League. The visitors, on the contrary, have been pleasing us with their results lately, despite their relegation. Surely, before leaving for the second league, the team will want to at least indirectly influence the championship race and may well take points from Hiroshima. We believe that it will not be easy for the hosts here.
Our prediction is Asian handicap (+1.5) on Sapporo for 1.90
Bet on total
Despite the large gap in the tournament table, head-to-head encounters between the teams are always tough, and the last three matches ended in a draw. Most likely, the opponents will fight equally this time and will not allow each other to create many scoring chances.
Our prediction is total under 3.5 goals for 1.70
Bet on the first half
We don't expect the opponents to go forward in force immediately after the starting whistle. It will obviously take time to get to know each other. In this scenario, a draw at the end of the first half is likely.
Our prediction is a draw in the first half at 2.85
