Tokyo Verdy vs Machida Zelvia

Ajinomoto Stadium is the venue as Tokyo Verdy and Machida Zelvia go head-to-head in only their second J1 League encounter.

Stranded in the J1 League mid-table amidst an indifferent five-game form (W2, D1, L2), Tokyo Verdy seek redemption for a disappointing 1-0 loss to Shonan Bellmare in midweek Emperor’s Cup action. It was another game in which Verdy’s attacking shortcomings came to the fore. Hiroshi Jofuku’s misfiring frontline has failed to score more than one goal in five of their last six competitive outings. However, they’re a team to beat in the J1 League. Infamously considered ‘stalemate specialists,’ the hosts have drawn a league joint-high ten league matches this season, including seven out of 11 on home turf (W3, L1). They’d likely embrace another share of the spoils following a thumping 5-0 defeat at the hands of Machida in May’s reverse fixture.

Visiting Machida must be angling for a league double over Verdy after a narrow 1-0 home triumph against Nagoya Grampus last time out extended their unbeaten J1 League run to five matches (W3, D2). Given Verdy’s well-documented scoring woes, Machida’s rock-solid backline that has kept three clean sheets across their last four league outings could have a field day. Another resilient defensive showing would likely set the tone for a seventh consecutive unbeaten league game on the road for the J1 League table-toppers (W4, D2). But even conceding once may be insufficient to nd Machida’s superb away run, considering they’ve bagged precisely three goals in three of their last four top-flight victories on the road.