The next stop in what is turning into a fairytale 2024 J1 League season for Machida Zelvia will be the Ajinomoto Stadium to face Tokyo Verdy on Saturday morning.
Tokyo Verdy are aiming to bounce back from their Emperor's Cup exit in midweek, while the visitors are looking to extend a five-match unbeaten run in the top flight.
Match preview
While we have come to expect the likes of the Kashima Antlers and defending champions Vissel Kobe to be near the top of the table, few would have anticipated that 22 matches into the season, newly-promoted Machida Zelva would be leading the way.
Their rise has been phenomenal - this is a team that was competing in the third tier as recently as 2015 and had never managed to finish higher than fourth place in the J2 League until last season.
A solitary first-half goal by Hokuto Shimoda was enough for Zelvia to see off Nagoya Grampus 1-0 at home last weekend, marking their fifth consecutive match without defeat (W3 D2 L0), while also maintaining their five-point cushion above giants Kashima Antlers, who beat basement club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on the same day.
Key to Go Kuroda's side's success this season has been their defence which has conceded just 17 goals in 22 games - the joint-fewest in the top flight so far alongside Gamba Osaka and Vissel Kobe.
Interestingly, Zelvia have been a much better side on the road than at Machida GION Stadium, having only lost one of their 11 away games to date and earning 26 points from a possible 33, which is the best record in the division.
Meanwhile, Tokyo Verdy's return to the J1 League has not been as eye-catching as their newly-promoted opponents', but they can be well proud of what they have managed so far, currently rounding out the top half of the table and 10 points clear of the drop zone.
While their Emperor's Cup hopes ended in midweek, Verdy are gunning for a third league match without defeat following a 2-1 away win over Yokohama F Marinos and a 1-1 draw to Cerezo Osaka last week.
Against Cerezo, Hiroshi Jofuku's side fought valiantly to hold onto their lead after being reduced to 10 men, but their opponents piled on the pressure, outshooting them 12-1 in the second 45 before finally breaking through late in the half.
In contrast to Zelvia, the bulk of Verdy's points have come at home, where they have not tasted defeat since their first home match of the season and are currently unbeaten in their last 10 games (W3 D7 L0).
That positive home record will also give them major confidence to exact their revenge here, as it was this opponent that handed them a 5-0 hammering in the reverse fixture back in May, which remains their heaviest loss of the season.
Team News
Fuki Yamada was the player who was sent off for a tackle on Capixaba against Cerezo and he will begin the first match of his suspension this weekend.
Yuto Tsunashima seems to have completely shaken off the knock he was carrying having featured in midweek, and he could replace Yamada alongside Hijiri Onaga and Hiroto Yamami in midfield.
Fittingly, winger Yu Hirakawa took his final bow by setting up the winner for Zelvia last week. The 23-year-old has since departed Machida to join Championship outfit Bristol City.
The visitors are also unable to call upon Takuya Yasui, Min-kyu Jang and Sang-ho Na, all of whom are carrying serious injuries and are expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Tokyo Verdy possible starting lineup:
Vidotto; Taniguchi, Chida, Hayashi; Saito, Tsunashima, Onaga, Inami, Miki, F Yamada; G Yamada
Machida Zelvia possible starting lineup:
Tani; Mochizuki, Dresevic, Shoji, Hayashi; Araki, Sento, Shimoda, Erik; Duke, Fujio
We say: Tokyo Verdy 1-2 Machida Zelvia
While Tokyo Verdy have been one of the most difficult teams to beat on their home patch, they now face the side with the league's best away record and are unbeaten in their last six matches on the road.
Additionally, the visitors completely outplayed this opponent in the reverse fixture, and while this match is unlikely to be as lopsided as the last, we do still feel Zelvia will come away with the points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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