Machida Zelvia vs Albirex Niigata

J1 League leaders Machida Zelvia entertain bottom-half strugglers Albirex Niigata at Machida GION Stadium.

Machida went from strength to strength in the J2 League last term to achieve top-flight promotion for the first time in the club’s history. Not even the most optimistic Machida fans could’ve hoped for a better start to their inaugural J1 League season, with Go Koruda’s side sitting atop the table after 16 rounds! They’ve racked up an impressive 69% win ratio (W11, D2, L3), winning their last three league games by a combined score of 9-2. After two consecutive home league losses in early April, they’ve turned Machida GION Stadium into a fortress, registering a three-game winning streak, bookended by a 5-0 thumping of mid-table Verdy. That puts them in the driver’s seat to avenge a two-game losing run against Albirex Niigata in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Albirex Niigata’s rough patch in the build-up to this trip has seen them lose four of their last five J1 League matches (W1) despite finding the net on each occasion. Left to hang only two points clear of the bottom three, the visitors must address their defensive woes to bolster their survival hopes after conceding 2+ goals in five of their last seven top-flight outings. Niigata’s well-documented travel sickness has come to the fore since the start of April, resulting in three defeats across four league road trips (W1). Rikizo Matsuhashi’s men have been prone to slow away starts, conceding the opening goal on five of their seven top-flight travels this season (W1, D1, L3).