📏 Form Guide

Albirex Niigata

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Albirex Niigata go into this game after a 0-0 J1 League draw against Yokohama FC.

In that match, Albirex Niigata managed 64% possession and 13 shots on goal with 4 on target. At the other end, Yokohama FC had 12 attempts at goal with 1 of them on target.

Under three goals per game were scored during 5 of the past 6 fixtures where Albirex Niigata have been participants. Breaking down the goal attribution during this period, opposing sides scored a total of 5 while Albirex Niigata managed a tally of 7.

Going into this game, the form guide shows that Albirex Niigata:

• are unbeaten in the league by Kyoto Sanga in their previous 3 matches.
• haven’t won at home in the past 9 matches in the league. Such a poor run.

Kyoto Sanga

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Since being defeated in their last game at the hands of Urawa Red Diamonds in J1 League action, Kyoto Sanga and their fans will hope to get a better result this time.

In that match, Kyoto Sanga managed 56% possession and 7 shots at goal with 2 on target. The only player to score for Kyoto Sanga was Rafael Elias (55'). At the other end, Urawa Red Diamonds had 14 attempts at goal with 5 of them on target. Yusuke Matsuo (24') and Ryoma Watanabe (61') scored for Urawa Red Diamonds.

For 5 of the prior six clashes involving Kyoto Sanga, a comparatively low number of goals have been scored between them and opposing teams. The overall average number of goals per game during that spell is a paltry 2.17, with the average goals for Kyoto being 1.5. Such a trend might not be carried forward here, however.

↔️ Head to head

A review of their most recent head-to-head meetings stretching back to 23/05/2021 tells us that Albirex Niigata have won 3 of these games and Kyoto Sanga 2, with the number of drawn results being 1.

An aggregate of 11 goals were produced between them in this period, with 6 from Albirex and 5 created by Kyoto. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 1.83.

The previous league fixture featuring these sides was J1 League match day 26 on 12/08/2024 when it finished Albirex Niigata 2-0 Kyoto Sanga.

On that day, Albirex Niigata had 46% possession and 14 shots at goal with 4 of them on target. The goals were scored by Yuji Ono (25') and Kaito Taniguchi (70').

At the other end, Kyoto Sanga got 17 shots at goal with 3 of them on target.

The referee was Takuto Okabe.

📰 Team News: Albirex Niigata

It looks as if Albirex Niigata will possibly line up in a 4-4-2 formation for this one, beginning the first half with Kazuki Fujita, Soya Fujiwara, Jason Geria, Hayato Inamura, Yuto Horigome, Yota Komi, Hiroki Akiyama, Yuji Hoshi, Jin Okumura, Ken Yamura and Motoki Hasegawa.

🗞️ Team News: Kyoto Sanga

Out of a mainly healthy group of players, there is just a single fitness issue for the Kyoto Sanga boss Kwi-jae Cho to be concerned about. Sung-yun Gu (Meniscus injury) won’t be in action.

We are inclined to think that Kyoto Sanga could decide to elect for a 4-1-2-3 lineup, going with Sung-Yun Gu, Shinnosuke Fukuda, Yuta Miyamoto, Yoshinori Suzuki, Kyo Sato, Shimpei Fukuoka, Takuji Yonemoto, Taiki Hirato, Taichi Hara, Rafael Elias and Temma Matsuda.

💡 Prediction

In our view, Kyoto Sanga are dangerous enough to find the net against this Albirex Niigata side, however that probably won’t prevent them from conceding a couple at the other end.

We’re tipping both teams to score in a 2-1 winning score for Albirex Niigata when all is said and done.

Renata Leite, 04:15 19/04/2025