Imabari vs Consadole Sapporo Prediction

Right then, let's get stuck into this J2 League clash between Imabari and Consadole Sapporo. Both sides are stuck in mid-table mediocrity with only 3 points separating them, but this one looks like it could be a proper goal fest!

Imabari have been pretty average at home this season, winning just 25% of their home games and scoring 1.25 goals per game while conceding 1.50. Their recent form tells the story - they haven't kept a single clean sheet in their last 10 matches! That's shocking stuff, really. They did manage a decent 3-2 win over Vegalta Sendai and a 1-1 draw against second-placed V-varen Nagasaki, showing they can compete with the better teams, but defensively they're all over the shop.

Consadole Sapporo, on the other hand, have been brilliant away from home recently - winning 75% of their away games! They're scoring 2.00 goals per game on their travels, which is impressive. But here's the thing - they're also leaking goals like a sieve, conceding 1.90 per game overall. Just look at their recent results: they thumped Oita Trinita 3-1 but then got hammered 5-2 by JEF United. Proper Jekyll and Hyde stuff!

The head-to-head record shows just one previous meeting this season, which ended 2-2. That tells you everything you need to know about these two teams - they both know how to find the net but can't defend for toffee.

When you look at the stats, both teams to score jumps out at you. Imabari have seen both teams score in 70% of their recent games, while Consadole are at 60%. With Imabari's zero clean sheets in 10 games and Consadole's defensive struggles, this looks like a banker for goals at both ends.

The odds of 1.62 for BTTS Yes look pretty decent value to me. Both teams have shown they can score against decent opposition, and neither can keep it tight at the back. This has all the ingredients for an entertaining, high-scoring affair.

Key Points:

• Imabari haven't kept a clean sheet in their last 10 matches

• Consadole Sapporo have won 75% of their away games but concede 1.90 goals per game

• Both teams have high BTTS percentages (70% and 60% respectively)

• Previous meeting this season ended 2-2

• Both teams average over 1.2 goals scored per game

Given the defensive vulnerabilities on both sides and the attacking intent they've shown, I'm backing both teams to score in this one. Should be a cracker!