Akita can make this a contest of deliveries, clearances and second balls. Imabari want to press forward and connect quickly with their attackers. The landing zone behind that pressure is where the most useful matchup sits.
Akita have already produced box attempts through crosses and corners, and a long throw supplied their late equaliser at Miyazaki. Imabari's latest defeat included goals conceded from a free-kick delivery and a cross, giving Akita a familiar route to test.
Gomes is suspended after completing the previous match, removing a regular aerial defender from that unit. Mori has served his own suspension and restores an attacking connection for Imabari. Akita's case concerns the repeated contests around the visiting box and does not depend on a new goalkeeper problem.
I expect Akita to play beyond the first pressure and keep returning the ball through wide delivery and restarts. Their substitutes have recently contributed to that same method. That's why I'm siding with Blaublitz Akita to win.
