- Machida Zelvia have won four consecutive league matches on the bounce, and eight overall in J League 2025.
- Shimizu S-Pulse have won three away J League 2025 fixtures (D2, L6), averaging one goal per game on their travels in 2025.
- Machida Zelvia have won two and lost one of their last three home league games.
Machida Zelvia in fine form
The hosts have won their last four J League 2025 clashes and come into Saturday’s crucial mid-season clash with Shimizu S-Pulse in solid form. Go Kuroda, in charge of Machida Zelvia since February 2023, has overseen their rise into the top half of the standings in J League 2025, while his side have shown strong defensive resolve during their current winning run. According to our Machida Zelvia vs Shimizu S-pulse prediction, the hosts are expected to make use of their solid form.
A solid home record has contributed to the host’s solid 34-point total from 22 matches, with Machida Zelvia winning three, drawing one, and losing six of ten J League 2025 home games, conceding an average of 1.40 goals per match on average.
Machida have won their last two and lost the other of their three most recent home league outings, while their most recent three results have seen them win 4-0 away to Albirex Niigata, beat Kashima Antlers 2-1 at home and beat Shonan Bellmare by the same scoreline in a away game.
Shimizu S-Pulse struggling for consistency
Shimizu S-Pulse come into this clash in 14th place with 27 points after 22 games, and Susumu Watanabe has struggled to get a consistent run going since taking over as manager in April 2023.
His team have won one, drawn two, and lost two of their last five J League 2025 contests, following a 1-1 draw away at Nagoya Grampus Eight and a demoralising 0-2 defeat at home to Kashiwa Reysol.
The visitors will travel to Machida looking to end a disappointing run in this fixture, having won one of their past three league head-to-head encounters. The Machida Zelvia vs Shimizu S-pulse odds suggest the visitors are under pressure to improve their form.
Shimizu S-Pulse have played a more attacking game this season, pushing their fullbacks high up the field and trying to exploit the pace and verticality of their forwards in a 4-3-3 system or similar.
Machida to edge it in a close match
Shimizu S-Pulse have had a tough schedule recently and have not managed to win away against Machida in recent J League 2025 contests, coming into the game as slight favorites at +142, against +192 for the home side, with the draw at +244. For those looking for guidance, our Machida Zelvia vs Shimizu S-pulse betting tips indicate that the match is likely to be very close.
Machida Zelvia are on a hot streak right now and the form guide suggests they could continue this on Saturday, but the odds don’t reflect the closeness of this contest and we’ll take Machida or Draw in the double chance market. This Machida Zelvia vs Shimizu S-pulse preview points to both teams having equal wins in their head-to-head record from J League 2025, with one draw, and we see a similar result here in a closely-fought 2-2 stalemate.
Takuma Nishimura is Machida Zelvia’s top scorer this term with six goals in 18 appearances, but Yuki Soma has scored four for Machida in their recent run, and we think he’ll trouble Shimizu S-Pulse again this weekend.
Koya Kitagawa has been Shimizu S-Pulse’s most reliable source of goals this campaign with eight in 22 J League 2025 appearances, and he will be asked to carry the team’s goal burden again on Saturday. In summary, this Machida Zelvia vs Shimizu S-pulse prediction suggests an exciting and evenly matched contest awaits the fans.
