Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On May 21, 2025, in a rescheduled fixture of J-League Round 13, Yokohama Marinos will host Kobe at their home stadium. Kick-off is set for 12:00 Central European Time. Let's take a closer look at the best bet for this clash.
Yokohama Marinos
Yokohama Marinos are enduring an extremely disappointing season, still searching for their rhythm and a way out of crisis. The team has now gone 11 matches in all competitions without a single win. During this stretch, they've only managed two draws, with the last seven matches all ending in defeat. In their three most recent outings, Yokohama Marinos have failed to score a single goal, conceding six in the process.
It's worth noting the team had a solid run in the AFC Champions League, reaching the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Al Nassr.
In the league standings, Yokohama Marinos sit rock bottom in 20th place with just 8 points, 11 goals scored, and 23 conceded. However, they do have two games in hand, which could slightly improve their situation if they manage to win them.
Their home form leaves much to be desired as well—Marinos have not won in five consecutive matches at their own ground, with the most recent fixtures ending in defeat. As for their head-to-head record against Kobe, Yokohama Marinos have also lost their last two home encounters.
Kobe
Kobe currently occupy 8th place in the league standings after 15 rounds, with 24 points, 16 goals scored, and 14 conceded. They trail the top three by seven points, but crucially, have three games in hand. This gives Kobe a solid chance to break into the top three if they can maximize their results in these upcoming fixtures.
In the previous round, Kobe snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating Gamba Osaka 3-2 at home. Their away form has been mixed: they lost their last trip to Tokyo, but won the two road matches prior. An interesting stat—Kobe's last four away games have all ended 1-0, twice in their favor and twice in defeat.
Head-to-head clashes with Yokohama Marinos show no clear dominant side. Over the last six meetings, both teams have claimed three victories each. Notably, five of those six encounters saw over 2.5 goals scored and both teams found the net.
Interesting facts and head-to-head stats
- Yokohama Marinos have lost their last 7 matches.
- Yokohama Marinos have lost their last 4 home matches.
- Vissel Kobe have scored first in 6 of their last 7 matches.
- Five of the last 6 head-to-head meetings ended with over 2.5 goals.
- In 5 of the last 6 head-to-head meetings, both teams scored.
Probable lineups
- Yokohama Marinos: Iekura, Kato, Walsh, Deng, Nagato, Yan, Kida, Yamane, Tono, Amano, Anderson Lopes.
- Kobe: Maekawa, Sakai, Yamakawa, Honda, Thuler, Ogihara, Ideguchi, Miyashiro, Erik, Osako, Sasaki.
Prediction for Yokohama Marinos vs Kobe
Vissel Kobe look like the clear favorite for this match. They're in good form, battling at the top end of the table, and delivering consistent results. Meanwhile, Yokohama Marinos are in deep crisis, winless in 11 straight matches and rooted to the bottom of the standings under heavy pressure. Despite a relatively balanced head-to-head record, Kobe now have the edge in all key aspects. My pick for this game is a Kobe win at odds of 1.94.
