JEF United Chiba vs Machida Zelvia — Tips & Analysis

Machida Zelvia -0.25: Machida are one of the form teams in this league and JEF are the side everyone scores against. That gap is the whole case here. JEF have won just 3 of their last 19 games, tying 3 and losing 13. They let in almost 2 goals a game and sit 19th after a 0-3 loss at Hiroshima in their opener. Machida sit 2nd. They have won 9 of their last 19 and lost only 3, and they started the season with a 5-1 win at FC Tokyo. They score more than a goal a game and let in less than a goal a game. On the road they have lost once in 9 games. Machida have also won both meetings this year, including a 2-0 at this ground in May, when JEF did not score. Both teams have had 7 days off, so nobody is tired. A 0-2 to Machida is the likely finish. They should get in front and then control the game rather than chase more goals. The one warning is Machida's habit of tying games away from home. They tied 5 of their 9 road games last season, so a deep JEF block could hold them to a point. We think Machida have too much for this JEF side and back them to win it.