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League leaders Machida Zelvia will invite Nagoya Grampus to Machida Athletic Stadium in the J1 League on Saturday. The hosts have a comfortable five-point lead over second-placed Kashima Antlers and lead the visitors, who are in 11th place in the table, by 13 points.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last four league games and returned to winning ways after two consecutive draws on Sunday. Gamba Osaka took the lead in the first half but Riku Handa was sent off in the 33rd minute. Machida made the most of their numerical advantage and equalized in stoppage time. They scored twice in the second half to register a comeback 3-1 win.
The visitors have endured a five-game winless run in all competitions, suffering four losses. They fell to a 2-1 away loss to Cerezo Osaka in their previous outing, which was their third consecutive loss in the league.
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Machida Zelvia vs Nagoya Grampus Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two sides have locked horns just four times across all competitions thus far. The head-to-head record is perfectly even between them with two wins each.
- They met for the first time in the J1 League in March, with Machida recording a 1-0 away win in the reverse fixture.
- The hosts have the second-best attacking record in the league this season, scoring 34 goals in 21 games, 12 more than the visitors.
- Machida Zelvia have suffered just one loss in their last 11 league games. Interestingly, three of their four losses in the league have come at home.
- Nagoya Grampus have just one win in their last nine games in all competitions while suffering five losses.
- The visitors have suffered three consecutive losses in away games, conceding five goals while scoring just twice.
Machida Zelvia vs Nagoya Grampus Prediction
Zelvia have enjoyed an incredible debut campaign in the Japanese top flight and are at the top of the league table with 13 wins from 21 games. They are winless in their last two home games, scoring just one goal while conceding thrice, and will look to return to winning ways.
Interestingly, both of their wins in this fixture have come in away games. They have scored at least once in each of their four meetings against the visitors and will look to continue that form here.
Grampus have seen a drop in form recently, suffering four losses in their last five games. They have failed to score in three games in that period, which is a cause for concern.
Considering the current form of the two teams, the hosts are expected to register a comfortable win.
Prediction: Machida Zelvia 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Machida Zelvia vs Nagoya Grampus Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Machida Zelvia to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Shota Fujio to score or assist any time - Yes
