Japanese-Job Focus Battle Preview: Yokohama Mariner VS Kobe Victory Ship Kyoto VS Osaka Sakura

Look at the recent status first. Yokohama Mariners are currently ranked 20th in the league and are on the verge of relegation zone. They are in poor condition recently. He has won 0 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses in the last 10 games, and his home record is only 1 win, 4 draws and 3 losses. He has weak offense and has many loopholes in defense. He has not scored a goal in the last three rounds. However, Yokohama Mariners have a deep historical heritage, their former glorious record and huge fan base, which makes them have the possibility of bottoming out and rebounding. According to reports, the team's new coach may re-activate the Brazilian Trident combination, with the Golden Boot Lopez being among them last season. If the offensive firepower is restarted, it may bring a turning point. In addition, Nissan Group, the major shareholder behind Yokohama, said that if it could block Kobe, the entire team would receive an eight-digit yen special bonus, which is a great incentive for the players.

ranked 8th, with 24 points, 6 wins, 0 draws and 4 losses in the last 10 games, and his condition has fluctuations, but overall it is better than Yokohama Mariners. In terms of away games, Kobe has 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses, and has certain away combat effectiveness. However, Kobe showed the characteristics of being weak or not, and the team's best attacker Miyayo Great Sage in the last game was injured and retreated, which would undoubtedly affect the team's offensive firepower. At the same time, the previous home loss to the middle and lower reaches of the Hornets FC Tokyo also exposed the problem of its unstable defense.

Looking back at the history of the two teams' confrontation, Yokohama Mariners have not yet suffered two consecutive losses in the past 20 matches. But the latest confrontation was in August 2024, when Yokohama lost 1-2 to Kobe at home, and Yokohama Mariners had suffered seven consecutive losses against Kobe Victory Ship, and may be at a psychological disadvantage.

Overall, although Yokohama Mariner is in poor condition recently, it is supported by many favorable factors. Although Kobe Victory Ship is in an advantageous state, there are also hidden worries. This game may not be as one-sided as the odds show, and it is likely to be a stalemate. It is predicted that Yokohama Mariners will return unbeaten at home.

Forecast: Let the Win Goals: 0/2 Score Reference: 0:0 1:1

On May 21, 18:00, the third round of the 2025 Japanese League Cup will be about to begin, and Kyotobird will sit at the Kyocera Stadium to face Osaka Sakura.

Kyodogs performed well in the Japanese League this season. After 18 rounds, they had 9 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses and 31 points, temporarily ranked third in the standings, only 2 points behind the second place Kazuna Sun God, and have a strong motivation to hit a better ranking. The team has excellent offense and defense, and can score 1.5 goals per game on the offensive end, making it the second strongest team in the league; the defensive end is also quite stable, conceding only 21 goals in 18 rounds, and conceding 1.17 goals per game. In the last league away match against Yokohama Mariners, the team won 3-0, and remained unbeaten in the past three games with 2 wins and 1 draw, and was in good shape. In terms of home games, Kyoto was 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in the previous eight league home games, with a high unbeaten rate. The cheers of home fans will also become their strong backing.

Osaka Sakura is currently ranked 11th in the Japanese vocational league, with 22 points in the 17th round, and its grades are somewhat different from those of Kyoto. They scored 24 goals and conceded goals, and their front firepower was acceptable, but there were obvious loopholes on the defensive end. The away performance is Osaka Sakura's weakness. She only has 3 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses in 9 away games this season, with a low winning rate. The league was 0-2 away from Kawasaki forward, and his previous three consecutive wins were over, and his morale was hit, and he urgently needed a victory to regain his strength.

Recalling the last 10 confrontations between the two teams, Kyoto has the upper hand in 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses, and has a slight psychological advantage. However, the last time the two sides met was in the Japanese League on May 3, 2025. Kyoto lost to Osaka Sakura 2-3 at home, which gave Osaka Sakura a certain confidence. In past confrontations, the two teams scored more goals and the scene was relatively open. This time they met, they might also contribute a goal battle.

Overall, Kyoto is ranked higher in the league this season, in better shape, and has home court advantages and psychological advantages in confrontation. Although Osaka Sakura is not weak overall, she lacks away combat capabilities and is not stable in recent years. In this game, Kyoto is expected to take advantage of his home court advantages and excellent form to create more opportunities on the offensive end, while Osaka Sakura will work hard to find opportunities to score through ball possession. It is optimistic that Kyoto won a small victory or a draw between the two sides.

Forecast: Flat/Getty Score Number: 3/4 Goals Reference: 2:1 2:2