Yokohama F. Marinos vs Shonan Bellmare

A textbook definition of a ‘David vs Goliath’ clash pits J1 League leaders Yokohama F. Marinos and basement boys Shonan Bellmare against each other at the Nissan Stadium.

Yokohama F. Marinos’ J1 League title defense is moving according to plan as they start this round atop the league table, three points clear of runners-up Vissel Kobe, following an impressive run of five consecutive victories. Manager Kevin Muscat wouldn’t mind a bit more conviction from his men after overseeing three single-goal margin league triumphs on the bounce. The impending home return may offer just that, with the ‘Tricolor’ piecing together five straight competitive home wins, four of which came via multi-goal margins, with Yokohama averaging 3.6 goals per game. Facing an out-of-sorts Shonan side can only inspire more confidence within the home ranks, especially with Yokohama mustering three wins in their last four top-flight H2Hs as hosts (D1).

On the other hand, Shonan Bellmare’s misery in the domestic championship continued in midweek J1 League action as they slumped to a dreadful 4-1 defeat away to Urawa Reds, taking their ominously-looking winless league streak to 12 matches (D4, L8). Nailed to the bottom of the standings, the visitors face a season-long fight against the drop, but a single-point deficit on safety gives them a reason for optimism. But they still need to overcome this rotten patch, which only looks more horrific on the road, where they’ve lost their last four league outings by an aggregate score of 8-1. Shonan’s typically slow starts on hostile turf have seen them net just three first-half goals on nine J1 League travels this season. That’s a massive reason for concern, considering they’re winless in six away league matches after conceding first (D2, L4).