Toyama’s home form makes their meeting with Sendai a little stranger than the table suggests. Toyama have been getting into shooting positions, yet their recent home games have brought draws and a loss while their away games have supplied the wins. Sendai arrive after two defeats, but they still took more shots than the opposition in both. I want to see which side can turn territory into a second chance before the other gets set.
Our recent match records show Toyama with no win in their last six home fixtures, despite wins away at Albirex Niigata, Omiya and Kofu. They took 17 shots against Sapporo and lost, then 15 at Niigata and won. Sendai took 15 shots in the loss to Omiya and 13 in the loss at Niigata; their opponents had nine in each game. Those counts say Sendai have found entries, but not whether their next touch in the box has been good enough.
This is a matchup where I’d watch the first loose ball after a shot or cross. If Toyama recover it, their home pressure may finally become a sustained attack. If Sendai collect it and leave cleanly, Toyama could have plenty of the ball without getting the repeat looks they need.
