Fallen Japanese giants Yokohama F Marinos travel to Tokyo to face Machida Zelvia in the J1 League on Saturday.
While the visitors are fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table, the hosts are aiming to climb into the top six.
Match preview
© Imago
Three years on from winning their seventh J1 League title, Yokohama F Marinos are approaching the halfway stage of this season and find themselves sitting rock bottom of the 20-team standings following a disastrous run of form (W2 D5 L10).
Between April 12 and May 21, Marinos lost eight consecutive matches in all competitions, including seven straight defeats in the league and a 4-1 hammering by Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
During this period, Steve Holland was relieved of his duties after winning only one of his 11 matches at the helm, and former Leicester City and Leeds United defender Patrick Kisnorbo has since been confirmed as their new head coach after a short spell serving as an interim boss.
Kisnorbo was unable to make an instant impact in the Marinos hotseat as he lost each of his first six games in charge, but that miserable run was ended last Sunday when they secured a surprise, yet much-needed, 3-1 home victory over leaders Kashima Antlers - just their second J1 League win in 17 matches.
Now sitting eight points adrift of safety, Yokohama F Marinos can ill-afford to develop another losing habit if they wish to climb the table and will be targeting a win this weekend against a Machida side whom they beat 2-1 in their last meeting in July 2024.
Machida have not been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks either, as they enter Saturday's showdown having won just two of their last 10 matches in all tournaments (D2 L6).
Since beating Kashiwa Reysol 3-0 on home soil a fortnight ago, Go Kuroda's side were beaten 3-1 on penalties by Yokohama FC in the third round of the J. League Cup, before battling from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Fagiano Okayama in the top flight last weekend.
Machida finished third in the J1 League last season and they are now sitting 10th in the table, six points above the relegation zone and only two points behind reigning champions Vissel Kobe in sixth spot.
Zelvia may have failed to come out on top in any of their last for away games (D2 L2), but there is reason for Kuroda and co to be optimistic of success on Saturday, as they have won both of the previous two away meetings with Yokohama F Marinos, most recently winning 3-1 on June 2024.
Team News
Forty-year-old Machida forward Yuta Nakakuma is yet to play for the club this season and remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
The likes of Daihachi Okamura, Kotaro Hayashi, Keiya Sento and Takuma Nishimura are all set to retain their places in the starting lineup, the latter of whom has scored a team-high five goals so far this season.
As for Yokohama F Marinos, they will be without Takuto Kimura, Jeison Quinones and Reno Noguchi as they continue to recover from long-term injuries.
Yan Matheus scored a brace against Kashima Antlers last time out, taking his goal tally for the campaign to eight, and the Brazilian could be joined in attack by compatriot Anderson Lopes, who has scored a team-high 10 goals thus far.
Machida Zelvia possible starting lineup:
Tao; Mochizuk, Okamura , Shoji; Fujio, Sento, Mae, Hayashi; Na, Nishimura; Oh
Yokohama F Marinos possible starting lineup:
Hayakawa; Kato, Matsubara, Dong, Nagato; Yan Tamane, Asahi Uenaka
We say: Machida Zelvia 2-2 Yokohama F Marinos
While the in-form hosts are bidding to win a fourth match in a row, the visitors are hoping to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
