Match details. J.League Cup, Round of 64. Kick-off is Tue 29 Sep, 11:00 Lagos time. It is played at ND Soft Stadium Yamagata.
What's at stake. It is one game, with penalties if it is level.
Form. Montedio Yamagata have won five, drawn none and lost five of their last ten, 1.5 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W L L W L. In this competition Montedio Yamagata have gone W. Yokohama F Marinos have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last ten, 2.0 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W D W D L.
The numbers. Montedio Yamagata score 1.4 and concede 0.8 a game in their last five at home, with three clean sheets. Montedio Yamagata average 10.4 shots (4.2 on target), 4.0 corners and 0.5 cards a game. Yokohama F Marinos score 1.7 and concede 0.9 a game over their last ten, with six clean sheets. Yokohama F Marinos average 9.6 shots (3.3 on target), 3.1 corners and 1.4 cards a game.
Head to head. In the last three meetings Montedio Yamagata have won one, drawn one and lost one. None of the three went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in one. The last time they met, on 11 Jul 2015, it finished Montedio Yamagata 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos.
The case against. A knockout game (Round of 64) with penalties if level, and Yokohama F Marinos are not clearly stronger. Montedio Yamagata's record still gives them 38% to win.
The read. Yokohama F Marinos or the draw. A tight game. Yokohama F Marinos are the stronger side on form and the table; both teams' records favour Yokohama F Marinos. Their goals for and against point to a tight game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 21%. Three of the last three meetings went under 2.5.
The bets. No bet yet: nothing I'd back is priced yet. Leave: Yokohama F Marinos or Over 2.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read); Yokohama F Marinos or draw and under 2.5 goals (the signs point different ways); Yokohama F Marinos or Over 1.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read). Predicted score: Montedio Yamagata 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos (14% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and a tight game).