Mali vs Japan PREVIEW & PREDICTION 23/03/2018

MALI VS JAPAN PREVIEW & PREDICTION

Japan and Mali meet at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, in what will be the first friendly match of the year for the two teams. These two teams have never faced each other before, so this will be their first direct confrontation. In this game the home factor may be decisive, as Mali has considerable differences in their results at home and as visitors.

Japan:

The home team plays its first friendly of the year, after having played 5 in the last year, with the following markers: Belgium (1-0) Japan, Japan (1-3) Brazil, Japan (3-3) Haiti , Japan (2-1) New Zealand and Japan (1-1) Syria. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in away matches; against 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses at their stadium. In the last match they played, for the East Asian Soccer Championship, they lost to the Republic of Korea at home (1-4). In the last 10 home matches Japan has 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. The team has conceded goals in 8 of the last 10 matches, so their defense needs to improve, but their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 14 of the last 15 matches have ended with Over 1,5 goals and 12 out of 15 have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 15 games, he suffered the first goal 4 times and never got the comeback. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 15 home matches for all competitions: they have scored 14 of their 36 goals between minutes (76′-90 ‘).

Japan comes to this game unmotivated, after a home defeat, by 1-4, in the reception to South Korea. The Japanese usually act in a 4-3-3, favoring a faster style of play, channeling their game through the flanks. In this tactical scheme, the three players usually chosen to act in the attack are Doi, Kobayashi and Ito. Even so, because it is a friendly match, it is clear that the Japan coach chooses to give less used players a chance.

Mali:

The visiting team plays their first friendly match of the year, having played only 1 last year, which ended with the score: Mali (2-1) Burkina Faso. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 12 goals scored and 20 conceded; against 9 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss at their stadium, with 24 goals scored and 9 conceded. The team comes to this match after a draw away with Gabon by (0-0). In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, Mali won 2, tied 4 and lost 4. In their home matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 5 of the last 10 matches have ended with Menos de 1.5 goals

The Mali comes to this game after a forced draw, to zero, in the visit to Gabon. Thus, the African team goes through a gray period, as it records seven consecutive matches without winning. Mali usually acts in a 4-3-3, favoring a faster style of play. For this, you can count on the speed of Traore, Niane and Doumbia. To point out that the selection of Mali presents some recognized players in the main European championships.


PREDICTION: Japan to win @ 1.65

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