Matsumoto Yamaga vs Albirex Niigata Prediction & Betting Tips

Form heading into this one

Albirex Niigata have won 12 of their last 20 matches across competitions, a solid return, though that run includes two heavy defeats - a 5-0 loss away to Yokohama FC and a 0-4 exit in the Emperor Cup. Either side of those results they've kept winning, including back-to-back wins over Jubilo Iwata and Montedio Yamagata this September.

Matsumoto Yamaga: 20 completed matches; Albirex Niigata: 20 completed matches.

Matsumoto Yamaga

20 matches

Win

20% 4 / 20

Draw

50% 10 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

25

Conceded

25

Difference

0

Albirex Niigata

20 matches

Win

55% 11 / 20

Draw

15% 3 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

25

Conceded

28

Difference

-3

Matsumoto Yamaga's record looks very different. Just 4 wins from 20 matches, but 10 draws, tells you they're hard to beat outright even if they don't win much themselves. Five of their last six matches alone have ended level.

Matsumoto's habit of drawing could make this tighter than Albirex's superior overall record suggests.

Comparative Team Statistics: Matsumoto Yamaga vs Albirex Niigata

Head-to-head history

Albirex Niigata have the better of this fixture historically, winning 5 of the last 10 meetings, with Matsumoto Yamaga winning twice and three finishing level. The most recent clash came in this very competition last season, when Albirex won 2-0 at Matsumoto Yamaga's ground.

That head-to-head edge, and last season's cup result at the same venue, both point the same way.

What sort of game this could be

Both sides have scored and conceded at similar rates this season - Albirex around 1.2 goals a game in each direction, Matsumoto close behind at roughly 1.35 for and 1.25 against. Those numbers don't point to a one-sided game on goal difference alone, but Matsumoto's habit of drawing, including three of their last four matches, hints at a team set up more to avoid defeat than to force a result.

Key player statistics: Matsumoto Yamaga vs Albirex Niigata

Matsumoto Yamaga:

Penalty cards:

T. Inafuku x 1

Albirex Niigata:

Penalty cards:

Y. Takagi x 1

K. Chiba x 1

K. Mori x 1