Vissel Kobe vs Yokohama FC Predictions

• Vissel Kobe finished in 8th position last year but are the current Emporer’s Cup winners.
• Yokohama FC finished second in J2 last season, winning promotion to the top league once again.
• Vissel Kobe scored 61 goals last season with their games averaging 3.5 goals per game last season.
• Yokohama FC scored 66 goals on their way to finishing as runners up in J2 last year.

Can Vissel Kobe take the next step and vie for the title?

Vissel Kobe have the big name players in the league with the likes of Andres Iniesta and Thomas Vermaelen within their ranks but this is the season they need to have a real impact on the league following an average campaign last year. The side showed they can find victories when needed by lifting the domestic cup and winning four of their last five league matches last year but it remains to be seen if they can translate that over a league campaign.

The one thing that Kobe definitely know how to do is score goals. They scored 61 times last season, a total only beaten by league champions Yokohama Marinos. Unfortunately for Vissel Kobe fans it also became apparently that the side knew how to conceded too with their own net being breached 59 times, the third highest total in the league.

Can Yokohama make the step up to J1 after a great promotion season?

Yokohama FC finished in second place in J2 last season but even this great accomplishment was overshadowed by their bitter rivals, Yokohama Marinos being crowned J1 champions. Yokohama FC have a lot to prove this season as they return to the elite league in Japanese football and they face one of the toughest tests possible by facing Kobe on opening weekend.

Yokohama were able to score 66 goals last season in a J2 league that was competitive but the step up to J1 is a big one and the side will be hoping to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. Defensively the team were pretty solid, conceding less than a goal a game and having the second best defensive record in the league.

Can Yokohama overcome the might of Vissel Kobe?

Opening weekend in the J-League looks really interesting and no more so than in this match with Vissel Kobe looking to be a real force for the first time. These two sides have certainly proved they know where the goal is and we’re backing the 2.5 goal line to be beaten. We can’t see Vissel Kobe being beaten however and our prediction for this match is a Kobe win along with the 2.5 line being beaten.

The scoreline should see Vissel Kobe run out fairly comfortable winners as Yokohama struggle to adapt to life back in J1 but, as seen last season, Vissel Kobe are always susceptible to conceding and we think they do just that this weekend. We’re predicting a 3-1 win for Vissel Kobe in a match that marks their intent for the league this season.