For the 14th round of the Japanese J1 League, Shimizu S-Pulse will go toe-to-toe with Nagoya Grampus on May 05, at 05:00 GMT, at the IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka. In a league where no team seems to dominate, the hosts are fighting their way up the table while the visitors are stuck in the danger zone.
Shimizu S-Pulse: A Bold Return
After 2 seasons in the J2 League, Shimizu S-Pulse announced their return to the top tier with 5 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. Currently 7th placed with a total of 18 points after 12 rounds, they are 2 points away from the international cup qualification spot and 6 from the title shot. Though their goal tally of 17:13 may indicate a team with unbalanced attack and defensive lines, Shimizu scored in 10 of the 12 rounds played so far. Additionally, they kept 3 clean sheets and lost by 2 goals difference once.
It is their current form that is even more interesting. After breaking a 3-game losing streak in all competitions in the 1-1 draw against Kawasaki, Shimizu is now riding a wave of 2 consecutive wins, scoring 3 goals in each. And they are taking this game in their backyard, where they have lost 1 game in 6 played.
Nagoya Grampus: Fighting for Survival
Nagoya Grampus find themselves in the relegation zone, 18th spot to be precise, having collected just 11 points in 12 rounds. For a team that is in the J1 League for the 8th consecutive season, their experience in this division should count for something. However, their record of 3W, 2D, and 7L contradict everything. And considering their goal tally of 13 scored and 21 conceded, they will have a hard time keeping Shimizu’s attacking line at bay.
Even worse, Nagoya lost 6 of their 7 league games on the road, including today’s 1-0 loss against Kashima. Ball possession seems to be among the problems for Toru Oniki boys, leading to few goal-scoring chances created.
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Nagoya Grampus at IAI Stadium Nihondaira
It is still early for the bookmakers to provide their offers. And with the last H2H encounters between these 2 teams going back to 2022, their current form may share a light into this clash. Two victories, a draw, and two defeats are what the hosts managed in their last 5 games. The visitors recorded a win, and 4 defeats, in the same number of games. With both teams set to play their 13th-round games on April 29, the outcome may make drastic changes in the standings for both; giving this duel a new direction.
Update
Shimizu S-Pulse registered their third consecutive win by defeating Tokyo by 2 goals to nil. This important away victory moved them to fifth position. Nagoya Grampus had the opposite results; they lost by 1-2 against Kashiwa and are now second-to-last on the table.
Based on last round results, it is easy to assume that Shimizu had a great match while Nagayo underperformed. On the contrary, the hosts defeated one of the weakest teams in the league, registering only 2 shots on target. And considering the opponents the visitors faced in the last round, Nagayo’s performance was outstanding. They displayed good ball possession skills and often posed danger in front of Kashiwa’s goals, hitting the woodwork 4 times.
It is reasonable for the bookmakers to offer @2.39 for Shimizu to win, given their difficulty in beating small teams. Nagayo are the underdogs and their victory is priced at @3.40. And a draw is paying @3.15. Given the hosts’ momentum and home advantage, we will back them to win this duel. However, it won’t be a walk in the park, so we recommend backing them with a -0.25 Asian Handicap. The match is at hand; hurry up and open an account at the best betting platform to get the best odds!