Machida Zelvia will host Avispa Fukuoka in the upcoming round of the J1 League on Saturday, 22 June.
Will the league leaders get the points to help them stay at the top or can Fukuoka keep their winning streak going? Find out from our Machida Zelvia vs Avispa Fukuoka prediction and preview below.
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Machida Zelvia vs Avispa Fukuoka prediction: A close match without many goals
Key stats
- Three of the last four H2H duels between these two teams have gone under 2.5 total goals.
- With an average of 2.00 total goals per game, Avispa Fukuoka have one of the lowest averages in the J1 League this season.
- Machida Zelvia are at the top of the standings, but Avispa Fukuoka are on a three-game winning streak in the league, so a draw seems like a reasonable outcome.
- The last time these two teams met each other, the game has ended without a winner.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Machida Zelvia backed by the bookies
- HOME: 3/4 (1.75) – 57.10%
- DRAW: 11/5 (3.20) – 31.30%
- AWAY: 17/5 (4.40) – 22.70%
If we look at these Machida Zelvia vs Avispa Fukuoka odds, it's clear that the hosts are the expected winners, which is understandable given that they're the league leaders at the moment.
They are also in good form at the moment, with just one loss in their last eight matches in the league. However, Avispa Fukuoka are also doing great lately since they've won four in a row in all competitions.
In any case, we can expect a very exciting duel and if you liked our predictions for it, check out our top betting tips for today as well.
Last five H2Hs: Interesting and close matchup
With each of the team winning twice in their last five meetings, along with one draw, Machida Zelvia and Avispa Fukuoka have been tied in their recent H2H duels. The situation is the same if we look at their overall H2H record as well: 4-3-4.
Japan J-League 14/09/24
Avispa Fukuoka
Machida Zelvia
Japan J2-League 21/10/20
Machida Zelvia
Avispa Fukuoka
Japan J2-League 13/09/20
Avispa Fukuoka
Machida Zelvia
Japan J2-League 14/07/19
Machida Zelvia
Avispa Fukuoka
Japan J2-League 13/04/19
Avispa Fukuoka
Machida Zelvia
Machida Zelvia preview: Hoping to stay at the top
Things have been great at Machida Zelvia this season and they still sit at the top of the J1 League standings after 18 rounds, which is quite impressive for a newly-promoted team. That being said, it's an exciting title race and a few teams are very close to Machida in points, so they will need to keep their good form going if they want to lift the trophy in the end.
Meanwhile, Jang Min-kyu, Takuya Yasui, Mitchell Duke, and Na Sang-ho are all on the team's injury list ahead of this match.
Predicted lineup: Tani (GK), Mochizuki, Shoji, Dresevic, Hayaski, Vasquez, Shibato, Shimoda, Hirakawa, Fujio & Oh
Japan J-League 11/05/25
D
Shimizu S-Pulse
2
Machida Zelvia
2
Japan J-League 07/05/25
L
Kyoto Sanga FC
2
Machida Zelvia
1
Japan J-League 03/05/25
L
Kashima Antlers
1
Machida Zelvia
0
Japan J-League 29/04/25
W
Cerezo Osaka
1
Machida Zelvia
2
Japan J-League 25/04/25
L
Shonan Bellmare
1
Machida Zelvia
0
Avispa Fukuoka preview: Can they win four in a row?
Three straight wins in the league have put Avispa Fukuoka in the top half of the standings, close to the top. Right now they sit in seventh place in the J1 League, ten points behind league leaders and their next opponent Machida Zelvia. So, a win in this match would give Fukuoka hope of getting involved in the title race since there's plenty of football left to be played this season.
Takumi Nagaishiand and Yota Maejima are out with injuries at the moment.
Predicted lineup: Murakami (GK), Grolli, Tashiro, Miya, Oda, Matsuoka, Mae, Iwasaki, Konno, Wellington & Sato
Japan J-League 10/05/25
L
Yokohama FC
1
Avispa Fukuoka
0
Japan J-League 06/05/25
L
Kashima Antlers
1
Avispa Fukuoka
0
Japan J-League 03/05/25
L
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2
Avispa Fukuoka
1
Japan J-League 29/04/25
D
Shonan Bellmare
0
Avispa Fukuoka
0
Japan J-League 25/04/25
D
Fagiano Okayama
1
Avispa Fukuoka
1
Player to watch: Oh Se-Hun
With six goals for league leaders Machida Zelvia, the South Korean forward is the team's second-best scorer, only one goal behind Shota Fujio. While both players can be a problem for Avispa Fukuoka, Oh is our player to watch in this match.
Another header for Oh incoming?
Three of the six goals that Oh has scored in the league so far were after headers and we could see his aerial ability come into play once again in the team's upcoming duel with Avispa Fukuoka.