V-Varen vs Albirex prediction, preview, team news and more | J League Cup 2024

V-Varen will play host to Albirex at Transcosmos Stadium in J League Cup action on Sunday. Ten teams are competing in the playoffs for five tickets to the quarterfinals.

V-Varen lost 2-1 in the first leg at Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigita but there are indications they could reverse the deficit at home. The hosts posed numerous threats to Albirex upfield, but wasted many goal chances. They also had an effective defensive unit that proved tough for Albirex to handle, thereby limiting the scoreline to 2-1. V-Varen could achieve a favourable aggregate outcome if they replicate that performance in front of their home fans. V-Varen sit second in the J 2 League table.

Albirex, a top-tier side, were given favourable predictions ahead of the first leg against V-Varen, a second-tier outfit. However, the meeting proved many wrong. The return fixture is expected to be intense as well. Albirex’s previous visit to Transcosmos Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw. They are yet to win at the venue. The visitors sit 15th in the J1 League table with 19 points. Albirex defeated two second-tier teams Iwaki FC and Blaublitz Akita in Group 8 to reach the playoffs. Could V-Varen be their next victim?

V-Varen will enter the clash on the back of four straight wins and one defeat in all competitions.

---

V-Varen vs Albirex Head-to-Head

V-Varen have lost thrice and drawn twice in their last five matches against Albirex.

V-Varen form guide (all competitions): L-W-W-W-W

Albirex form guide (all competitions): W-W-L-W-L

---

V-Varen vs Albirex News

V-Varen

Center-back Jun Okano and Ryutaro Iio have been sidelined after suffering cruciate ligament injuries.

Injury: Jun Okano and Ryutaro Iio.

Doubtful: None.

Suspension: None.

Unavailable: None.

Albirex

The visitors will miss the services of Takumi Hasegawa, Eiji Miyamoto, Yuji Hoshi and Yoshiaki Takagi due to injuries.

Injury: Takumi Hasegawa, Eiji Miyamoto, Yuji Hoshi, Yoshiaki Takagi.

Doubtful: None.

Suspension: None.

Unavailable: None.

---

V-Varen vs Albirex Predicted Xls

V-Varen (4-1-4-1): Tomoya Wakahara (G), Ikki Arai, Haruki Shirai, Marcos Guilherme, Shumpei Naruse, Takashi Sawada, Riku Yamada, Matheus Jesus, Yoshinari Sebatake, Kaito Matsuzawa, Juanma

Albirex (4-1-4-1): Ryosuke Kojima (GK), Thomas Deng, Riita Mori, Yuto Horigome, Kazuhiko Chiba, Yuzuru Shimada, Eitaro Matsuda, Jin Okumura, Aozora Ishiyama, Danilo Gomes Magalhaes, Motoki Nagakura

---

V-Varen vs Albirex Prediction

The two teams have met 10 times, with V-Varen recording three wins as opposed to four for Albirex. Neither side have won the J League Cup.

V-Varen will be counting on Matheus Jesus and Juanma for a breakthrough. The duo boasts two goals each in the competition.

V-Varen come into the match as the favorites based on form and home advantage.

Prediction: V-Varen 3-1 Albirex