Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 21st round of the Japanese championship will take place on Saturday at the Toyota Stadium, where the home side Nagoya will face Shimizu. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds.
Match preview
Nagoya continue their quest for consistency this season, teetering on the edge of the lower half of the table. Despite a recent defeat to Kobe (1-2), the team managed to please their fans with confident home wins over Albirex Niigata and Urawa, conceding just one goal across both matches.
One trend stands out: at their home ground, Nagoya look far more assured than away—three wins in their last five home fixtures speak volumes. However, sitting 15th in the standings, the team must improve their stability, especially in games against direct rivals. The upcoming clash with Shimizu is just the chance for Nagoya to capitalize on home advantage and their strong home run to climb the table.
Shimizu come into this game as the league’s tenth-placed side, in decent form and with a boost of confidence after a cup victory over Matsumoto Yamaga (4-2) and a draw against Gamba Osaka in the league. However, their recent away form leaves much to be desired: three consecutive defeats, including a tough 2-4 loss to Cerezo Osaka.
Nevertheless, Shimizu have a knack for surprising favorites and maintain a potent attack, scoring in nearly every match. If the visitors can exploit their quick flanks and catch Nagoya on the counter, they could well take at least a point from this encounter. But that will require a much more disciplined defensive performance than in their recent away outings.
Probable lineups
- Nagoya: Pisano A., Hara T., Mikuni K., Sato Y., Uchida T., Inagaki S., Shiihashi K., Nakayama K., Kikuchi T., Izumi R., Yamagishi Y.
- Shimizu: Oki Y., Sumiyoshi J., Takahashi Y., Hasukawa S., Yamahara R., Uno Z., Mateus Bueno, Kapishaba, Nakahara H., Inui T., Kitagawa K.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Nagoya have won three of their last four matches against Shimizu, losing just once
- The "Both teams to score" bet has come through in only one of their last five meetings
- In their most recent encounter, Nagoya thrashed Shimizu away 3-0
Prediction
Given Nagoya’s strong home form and Shimizu’s shaky record on the road, the hosts look more likely to claim victory. However, the visitors possess a dangerous attack, so ruling out a Shimizu goal would be risky. Our pick: Nagoya to win with a (0) handicap at odds of 1.60.
