On August 11th at 5 PM, Machida Zelvia will host Shonan Bellmare at Machida GION Stadium in the J1 League’s 26th round.
Machida Zelvia drew 0-0 away against Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League’s 25th round this week. Despite having counter-attack opportunities, they failed to create threatening attacks, and even the arrival of national team player Yuma Soma couldn’t significantly impact the wing attack. As a result, they unfortunately went on another winless streak. After the match against Cerezo Osaka, Machida manager Tsuyoshi Kuroda expressed his disappointment in an interview: “If Mitchell Duke had passed the ball a little lighter in the counter-attack at the last moment, Eric could have finished the attack. Machida’s football is about scoring goals smoothly in this kind of situation. We need to learn from this game.”
Currently, Machida Zelvia sits atop the J1 League standings with 15 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses. However, they are only 3 points ahead of second-place Kashima Antlers, leaving the championship race open. In their 12 home matches this season, Machida Zelvia has achieved a record of 6 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, showing a significant drop in scoring compared to their away form. Their average goals conceded at home also stands at 1, indicating a decline in defensive performance. In their previous home matches, Machida Zelvia surprisingly dropped points against teams like Albirex Niigata and Avispa Fukuoka, failing to gain much advantage at home.
In terms of squad, Machida Zelvia will be without center-back Min-kyu Jang and midfielder Takuya Anzai for this match. Both players suffered fractures during the Emperor’s Cup match against Tsukuba University and have not yet returned. However, Machida’s reserve center-back Daisuke Matsumoto has recovered from injury and made a comeback in the friendly match against Lens during the break. The depth of the team’s bench is gradually increasing.
Shonan Bellmare drew 1-1 at home against Avispa Fukuoka last round. They took the lead through Shota Suzuki’s volley, but conceded in the closing stages from a set-piece. This unfortunately ended their four-game winning streak across all competitions. In the match against Avispa Fukuoka, although Shonan showcased their strong vertical attacking ability, they ultimately lacked the finishing touch. Reflecting on the late goal, Shonan manager Satoshi Yamaguchi said in a media interview: “I think it’s our fault. We need to review our set-piece defense. I won’t praise our opponents, and we will take some measures.”
Currently, Shonan Bellmare sits 17th in the J1 League standings with 6 wins, 8 draws, and 11 losses. They are one point and six goals ahead of the relegation zone, temporarily holding the initiative in the battle for survival. In their 13 away matches this season, Shonan Bellmare has only recorded 3 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses, accumulating 14 points with an average of nearly 1.8 goals conceded per game. Their defensive ability should not be overestimated. However, in their last four away matches, Shonan Bellmare has achieved 2 wins and 2 draws against four veteran teams: Nagoya Grampus, Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds, and Gamba Osaka, showing signs of improvement in their scoring ability.
In terms of squad, Shonan Bellmare’s wing-back Kosuke Onosesu has already recovered from injury and will be available, while center-back Junnosuke Suzuki is also back after serving a suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. However, Shonan’s midfield and backline will be missing six key players: Daiyo Hiraoka, Hiroyuki Abe, Hisashi Ishii, Yuki Tachi, Taiga Hata, and Shin Yoshida. This will significantly impact their starting lineup.
In previous official encounters between the two teams, Machida Zelvia has yet to secure a victory. In this round of the league, Machida Zelvia, feeling the pressure of the championship race, will aim to get back on track with home advantage. Can Shonan Bellmare, under pressure to avoid relegation, successfully escape with all three points?
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