Jubilo Iwata vs Yokohama F. Marinos

Yokohama F. Marinos take a trip to the Yamaha Stadium to take on bottom-half Jubilo Iwata in a must-win J1 League match-up.

Things are not going Jubilo Iwata’s way these days, as they come into this matchday having won just one of their last five J1 League games (D1, L3). Interestingly, though, Iwata’s three previous league results (win/loss) have yielded the identical 2-1 scoreline, highlighting the potential for an action-packed contest. Adding to this sentiment, four of their last five J1 League meetings with Yokohama have featured over 2.5 goals, with three of them seeing both teams on the scoresheet. But Iwata wouldn’t mind any kind of win here, as they sit just two points clear of 16th-placed Shimizu S-Pulse ahead of the weekend. Before losing Consadole Sapporo in their most recent home outing, the ‘Jubilo’ had been unbeaten in five previous home league matches (W2, D3).

Iwata’s decent home record of late is about to be severely tested as title-bidding Yokohama Marinos look to build on a 2-0 home triumph over Kyoto Sanga last time out. After snapping a run of back-to-back league games without winning (D1, L1), the ‘Marinos’ will be aiming to close a two-point deficit on table-topping Kashima Antlers and boost their hopes of lifting their first J1 League title since 2019. But to do that, Yokohama will have to defy their underwhelming away league record this term (W2, D2, L3) and arrest a two-game winless streak on the road (D1, L1). To their credit, before losing 1-0 at Avispa Fukuoka on their most recent league travel, Kevin Muscat’s men had bagged 3+ goals in their three previous away league matches (W2, D1).