Yokohama F. Marinos - Sanfrecce Hiroshima predictions and free betting tips [19/06/2024]

Hello everyone! Not the best of days today, but we'll aim to recover tomorrow! On 19 June 2024, the 13th round of the Japanese J1 League will see Yokohama M hosting Hiroshima at their home ground.

Yokohama M

The home team currently sits in 13th place in the Japanese J1 League table after 13 rounds. They have accumulated 20 points, with 5 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses. They've scored 25 goals and conceded 24, which gives them a goal difference of +1.

Recent form is rather unconvincing: only 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses in their last five league fixtures. Yokohama M is just 6 points away from the relegation zone, but they have 1-2 games in hand compared to their competitors. They need to start accumulating points more consistently, otherwise, they risk relegation at the end of the season.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is having a decent season. They have 29 points after 17 games, trailing the league leader by 9 points, with a game in hand. They are 7 points behind the top-2 (AFC Champions League zone), also with a game in hand. They've scored 32 goals in 17 matches (nearly 2 goals per game) and conceded 16 (1 goal per game).

Hiroshima has good form: just 1 loss, alongside 3 wins and 1 draw in their last five fixtures. They are still in the fight for AFC Champions League spots. It's crucial to keep gathering points consistently, especially against opponents who are considerably weaker in terms of play quality and squad depth.

Head-to-Head Encounters

In the last head-to-head encounter on 24 June 2023, the visitors secured a win away from home with a 1-0 scoreline.

Prediction for Yokohama M vs Hiroshima

The hosts have shown unsteady form recently. Their current play quality isn’t yielding the necessary points. The visitors are riding an impressive eight-match unbeaten streak in all competitions (7 wins and 1 draw). Hiroshima is in good shape and motivated to continue their fight for a top-2 spot, not willing to let their rivals pull away. I'm not going to reinvent the wheel; I'll back a straightforward victory for the second team. My bet is on a Hiroshima win.