J-League stats and tips

Sapporo v Shonan - Double Chance - home win or draw

Following your favourite footy team year after year can be a pretty dispiriting experience at times, and Shonan Bellmare’s long-suffering follows know that only too well right now. Their club, led by Satoshi Yamaguchi, is now winless in their previous 7 J-League matches, and few will be expecting them to end that run against Consadole Sapporo at Sapporo Dome on Saturday morning. Backing opposition manager Mihailo Petrović to add another to that list by guiding his side to a positive result can be backed at best odds of 1.35.

Albirex v Tokyo - Over / Under 2.5 Goals - under

Albirex Niigata have played out some low-scoring matches in J-League in recent weeks. There have been under 2.5 goals in every one of Rikizo Matsuhashi's side's last 5 outings and, with Peter Cklamovski and his Tokyo ahead on Saturday morning, their forwards may well need to put in some additional practice on the training ground.

Jubilo Iwata v Machida - Both Teams To Score - yes

When Jubilo Iwata and Machida Zelvia have met in the J-League, they've delivered proper entertainment. Both sides have scored in each of their last 5 matches against one another, so the Yamaha Stadium faithful could be in for another nail-biter on Saturday morning.

Vissel Kobe v Kyoto Sanga - Win / Draw / Win - home win

It's never easy to end a losing run, but that's what's required of Kyoto Sanga boss Kwi-Jea Cho on Saturday. His side face Vissel Kobe having lost each of their last 3 J-League outings.

Cerezo v Yokohama FM - Over / Under 4.5 Goals - under

Common or not, every football fan loves to see a match in which 5 goals or more are scored, but Cerezo Osaka's hardy fans have now had to wait 25 games to see their side take part in one. Certainly they could be forgiven for craving some proper excitement by now. Will that much-needed goal-fest finally come around on Saturday morning, as they face H. Kewell's Yokohama F. Marinos at Yanmar Stadium Nagai? With odds of 1.14 on there being 4 goals or fewer being scored, the bookies certainly don’t think so.

Hiroshima v Kawasaki - Double Chance - home win or draw

Every now and then we get a golden spell in football, and it has now been a while since since Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s joyous followers watched their lads lose in J-League. Michael Skibbe’s boys are now unbeaten in 15 outings, and he will be hopeful that they can extend that run against Kawasaki Frontale at EDION Stadium on Sunday morning. Best odds of 1.18 can be taken advantage of to back Sanfrecce Hiroshima to either win or draw.

Tokyo Verdy v Avispa - Double Chance - home win or draw

A satisfyingly long time has passed since Tokyo Verdy 1969’s joyous supporters watched their lads lose in J-League. H. Jofuku’s men are now unbeaten in 6 games, and he'll be hopeful that they can keep going against Avispa Fukuoka at Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday morning. Best odds of 1.44 are available to back Tokyo Verdy 1969 to avoid defeat yet again.

Gamba Osaka v Kashima - Over / Under 3.5 Goals - under

We have seen 3 goals or less in each of Gamba Osaka's last 15 J-League games. As they face Ranko Popović's Kashima Antlers at Nishigaoka National Stadium on Sunday, tipsters should be backing that run to continue.

Kashiwa v Sagan Tosu - Over / Under 2.5 Goals - under

Low scoring matches aren't always tedious affairs, but fans of Kashiwa Reysol have had lots of chances to test that theory this term. 8 of their side's games in J-League have finished with under 2.5 goals so far - the most in the competition. Will Kenta Kawai and his Sagan Tosu team be capable of adding some spice into this clash on Sunday? Or will it be yet another low scoring affair?

Urawa Reds v Nagoya - Double Chance - away win or draw

Kenta Hasegawa and his Nagoya Grampus Eight troops have developed a useful way of claiming something from pretty much every J-League fixture they play. They're unbeaten in 6 in J-League now, so Maciej Skorza and his Urawa Reds side will need to be on top of their game if they're to stand any chance at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Sunday.