This J.League fixture pits a stuttering Nagoya Grampus against a Machida Zelvia side in a rich vein of form. CheckLive's data has Machida Zelvia as the clear favourites, carrying a 65% win probability on a high signal, but that still leaves real room for a draw or a home result. Both teams need points at this stage of the league season, so the match carries genuine importance.
Nagoya have lost three of their last five, going down 0-3 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, 1-3 to Gainare Tottori and 1-2 to Kashima Antlers, with a 0-0 draw against Fagiano Okayama and a 3-1 win over Gamba Osaka the exceptions. Machida Zelvia have won four of their last five, beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-1, Iwate Grulla Morioka 3-0, Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 and JEF United Chiba 4-0, alongside a 1-1 draw at Mito Hollyhock.
The head-to-head record is heavily in Machida's favour: four meetings, with three wins and one draw for the visitors and no victories for Nagoya. Their most recent encounter ended 2-1 to Machida Zelvia in June. Nagoya's main task is tightening up at the back after conceding three in two of their recent defeats, against a Machida side scoring regularly.
