📊 Form Guide

Albirex Niigata

DWWLWD

Albirex Niigata prepare for this game following a 2-2 J1 League stalemate against Tokyo Verdy.

In that game, Albirex Niigata managed 62% possession and 11 attempts on goal with 3 of them on target. For Albirex Niigata, the goals were scored by Kaito Taniguchi (32') and Motoki Nagakura (69'). For their opponents, Tokyo Verdy had 10 shots on goal with 4 on target. Fuki Yamada (8') and Hijiri Onaga (90') scored for Tokyo Verdy.

Their more recent scorelines show that it has been a great time for the Albirex Niigata defence. Albirex Niigata have been mean at the back, resulting in the tally of goals that have flown into the back of their net during their previous 6 outings standing at 4. Nevertheless, we must now wait to see if that trend shall continue on in this upcoming match.

Analysis of their past results shows that Albirex Niigata:

• have not been beaten in the league by Kashiwa Reysol in their last 3 games.
• have not beaten Kashiwa Reysol in their last 9 league matches.
• are unbeaten in their previous 7 league matches at home.

Kashiwa Reysol

DDDWWL

Since being defeated in their last game at the hands of Nagoya Grampus in J1 League action, Kashiwa Reysol and their travelling supporters will be hoping that they can get a better result in this one.

In that match, Kashiwa Reysol had 62% possession and 14 shots on goal with 2 on target. For their opponents, Nagoya Grampus got 10 shots on goal with 5 of them on target. Kensuke Nagai (18') and Chang-rae Ha (62') scored for Nagoya Grampus.

In 5 of the past six games involving Kashiwa Reysol, a relatively low number of goals have been hit between them and their opposition. The overall average number of goals per game in that spell is a mere 2, with the average goals for Reysol equalling 1.

Looking at their past form shows that Kashiwa Reysol:

• remain undefeated by Albirex Niigata in away games against them for the last 4 league games. Travelling fans have really enjoyed these clashes.
• are undefeated in their last 4 away league matches.

↔️ Head to head

A look at their prior head-to-head clashes going back to 09/03/2019 shows us that Albirex Niigata have won 1 of these and Kashiwa Reysol 2, with the tally of drawn games being 3.

A combined total of 10 goals were scored between the two sides in this period, with 5 for Albirex and 5 coming from Reysol. That’s an average goals per game figure of 1.67.

The previous league meeting featuring the two was J1 League match day 18 on 24/06/2023 when it ended Kashiwa Reysol 0-0 Albirex Niigata.

In that match, Kashiwa Reysol managed 41% possession and 7 shots on goal with 4 on target.

For their opponents, Albirex Niigata got 10 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target.

The match was refereed by Takuto Okabe.

ℹ️ Team News: Albirex Niigata

The Albirex Niigata boss Rikizo Matsuhashi does not have any fitness concerns at all before this game thanks to a fully healthy squad available to select from.

We are thinking that Albirex Niigata could employ a 4-2-3-1 system for this one, beginning the first half with Ryosuke Kojima, Soya Fujiwara, M. James Fitzgerald, Kazuhiko Chiba, Yuto Horigome, Yuzuru Shimada, Hiroki Akiyama, Eitaro Matsuda, Yoshiaki Takagi, Shusuke Ota and Kaito Taniguchi.

📰 Team News: Kashiwa Reysol

Due to a mostly full-strength squad, there is only the lone fitness issue for the Kashiwa Reysol manager Masami Ihara to be concerned about. Hidetaka Maie (Cruciate ligament surgery) won’t be in action.

We’re of the thinking that Kashiwa Reysol appear most likely to begin the game with a 4-4-2 system using Kenta Matsumoto, Hiroki Sekine, Tomoya Inukai, Taiyo Koga, Diego, Yuto Yamada, Takumi Tsuchiya, Eiji Shirai, Matheus Savio, Mao Hosoya and Kosuke Kinoshita.

💭 Prediction

In our view, Kashiwa Reysol and Albirex Niigata should play out a closely-fought contest here.

Let’s see how this one goes, but it looks this could be a draw. We’re therefore tipping a very close game with a 1-1 score draw at the end of the 90 minutes.

Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Peter Guest, 04:07 30/03/2024