Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the Japanese Cup's midweek clashes will take place at the Sapporo Dome, where the local side Sapporo hosts Oita. I’m backing a bet on goals in this encounter, with strong chances for success.
Match preview
The Hokkaido side has been showing solid form at home—winning twice, drawing twice, and losing just once in their last five home matches. Sapporo’s attack is firing confidently, regularly netting two goals per game, even against teams from the upper half of the J2 standings.
Despite some defensive issues, the club displays good organization and is dangerous on the counter-attack, making them a tough opponent in cup ties. After relegation from J1, the team is fighting to maintain its spirit and character, but a return to the top flight isn’t on the cards just yet. Sapporo currently sits 14th in the table, trailing the top six by 10 points.
The visitors are struggling for consistency—over their last five J2 matches, Oita has managed just one win, two draws, and two losses. The team’s approach is defensive by design, but a lack of attacking output often costs them points.
The lack of aggression is especially evident away from home: just two goals in their last three road games. In the previous round, Oita hosted Blaublitz but fell 1-2, despite opening the scoring. Right now, they’re 10th in the table, six points off the top six.
Probable lineups
- Sapporo: Sugeno T., Takao R., Urakami N., Miya D., Kondo T., Miyazawa H., Takamine T., Pak Min Gyu, Aoki R., Sanchez J., Kido S.
- Oita: Hamada T., Nodake J., Mateus, Derlan, Yoshida M., Nakagawa H., Amagasa T., Utsumoto S., Arima K., Ikeda R., Isa K.
Match facts & head-to-head
- Sapporo have lost only once in their last five home matches
- Oita defeated Sapporo 2-0 at home in February 2025
- The “both teams to score” bet has landed in three of the last five meetings
Prediction
Given the form of both sides, Sapporo’s more balanced football and strong home record make them clear favorites. Oita will likely try to absorb the pressure, but it’s doubtful they’ll find enough going forward. Our bet for this match is "Total under 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.67.
