National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Blaublitz Akita or Tochigi that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Blaublitz Akita form and stats
Last season their Emperor Cup adventure ended in the 2nd round.The story so far in the J2-League for Blaublitz Akita at their home stadium (Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Stadium) is 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats.
Blaublitz are anxiously hoping for a goal as it's been 216 minutes since the last one in league fixtures. (Scored by Hata).
Blaublitz Akita are hoping to put things right at home after a defeat in their previous match, the score 0-2 away versus Júbilo Iwata.
In the match before that, Blaublitz hosted Oita Trinita and drew the J2-League game 0-0.This is expected to be a close game, with Blaublitz Akita perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Blaublitz Akita as a small favourite), we find 10 games. Blaublitz Akita has won 3 of these, drawn 3 and lost 4.
Some members of the home team might already be thinking of their next match, the J2-League game versus Zweigen Kanazawa in only four days. This game is also played here at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Stadium.
Blaublitz Akita have scored {6 league goals} here from 8 matches, not a lot. Blaublitz are not conceding a lot of goals here at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Stadium in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 6 from 8 matches.
Tochigi form and stats
Tochigi was sent out of Emperor Cup in the 4th round last season.The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Tochigi so far with only 3 points returning home. The records show 0-3-7 (win-draw-lose).
It's another away game for the visitors, as they travelled to Fujieda MYFC in their previous outing. The match ended in a draw 1-1.
A home win before that, celebrating 2-1 vs Fagiano Okayama.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Tochigi playing away and similar expectations, we found 16 relevant matches. Results were 4 Tochigi wins, 8 draws and 4 defeats.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only four days as another away game awaits: The J2-League trip to Tokushima Vortis.
Goals are few and far between in Tochigi's away league games. Only {5 goals} from 10 travels. As opposed to that, Tochigi have seen the ball go into their own net 14 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
H2H stats regardless of arena (last nine matches): Blaublitz four wins, two draws and Tochigi three victories. As for goals, three matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), six games had two or less.
Top Goalscorers
  H. Fukushima 3 goals | R. Nemoto 3 goals |  R. Iio 2 goals |
Blaublitz Akita missing players
Tochigi missing players
| Blaublitz Akita | Tochigi | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 11 | 5 | Won | W | 2 | 7 | ||
| 6 | 3 | Drew | D | 5 | 8 | ||
| 8 | 4 | Lost | L | 7 | 10 | ||
| 25 | 11 | Scored | S | 8 | 23 | ||
| 22 | 8 | Conceded | C | 15 | 26 | ||
| 84% | 83% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 93% | 88% | ||
| 48% | 42% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 60% | ||
| 40% | 33% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 14% | 32% | ||
| 8% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 7% | 12% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 4% | ||
| 40% | 33% | BTTS | BTTS | 36% | 44% | ||
| 40% | 33% | Clean Sheets | C S | 21% | 28% | ||
| 36% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 40% | ||
| 4.9 | 5.3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3.6 | 3.8 | ||
| 5 | 5.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.8 | 5 | ||
| 1.2 | 1.4 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.6 | 1.4 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 3 | ||
| 8.7 | 8.7 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 5.2 | 6.8 | ||
| 3 | 3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 1.7 | 2.4 | ||
| 33% | 31% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 32% | 38% | ||
| 8.2 | 7.9 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 10.1 | 9.2 | ||
| 3.4 | 3.8 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4.2 | 3.9 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Machida Zelvia | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 42 |
| 2 | Oita Trinita | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 34 |
| 3 | Tokyo Verdy | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 33 |
| 4 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 32 |
| 5 | Ventforet Kofu | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 32 |
| 6 | Júbilo Iwata | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 30 |
| 7 | Vegalta Sendai | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 30 |
| 8 | Fagiano Okayama | 19 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 29 |
| 9 | ThespaKusatsu Gunma | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 0 | 29 |
| 10 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 22 | 28 |
| 11 | Roasso Kumamoto | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 27 |
| 12 | Blaublitz Akita | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 26 |
| 13 | Montedio Yamagata | 19 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 25 |
| 14 | Fujieda MYFC | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -2 | 25 |
| 15 | JEF United | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -6 | 23 |
| 16 | Tochigi | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -4 | 20 |
| 17 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 19 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 33 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 24 | -9 | 20 |
| 18 | Tokushima Vortis | 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 15 | -9 | 20 |
| 19 | Mito Hollyhock | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -17 | 20 |
| 20 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 34 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | -17 | 19 |
| 21 | Iwaki | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | -20 | 16 |
| 22 | Omiya Ardija | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 18 | -14 | 14 |
