AFC Champions League Preview: Kofu vs Melbourne City - Kickoff, H2H, Stats, Probable XIs, Updates, Predictions
The Japanese side would take commanding lead in Group H if they get past the Australians at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo
Akyereko TheWriter 
Japanese side Ventforet Kofu would assume a comfortable lead at the top of Group H in the 2023/24 AFC Champions League if they get past Australian side Melbourne City.
The top-the-table clash comes off at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday night with kick off schedule for 19:00 local time.
Fans of Kofu, who have made the 104.2 kilometer trip from Yamanashi to Tokyo, are expectant of their side. They hope the Blies / Ventforet would be able to recover from their loss at Montedio Yamagata in mid November.
Brazilian Cristiano had shot them into the lead in the JLeague 2 fixture, however, the home side recovered to defeat them 2-1.
The heartbreaking 92nd goal by Delatorre ended Kofu's 3-game winning streak.
Despite their patchy form in the league, Kofu appear in decent shape on the continent as they share the top spot in Group H with the visitors.
FORM GUIDE
- Despite making their maiden appearance in the competition, Kofu have come in stronger - grinding the results at home while nicking some vital away points.
- They held Melbourne City to a pulsating 0-0 draw on Matchday 1 in Australia before grabbing a crucial 1-0 win over Thai opposition Buriram United.
- Chinese side Zhejiang deflected their egos with a 2-0 shutdown in Huzhou. However, Kofu had their own revenge plans up their sleeves as they lashed them 4-1 in the reverse fixture in early November.
- From the records, the Japan National Stadium has proven to be a good grounds for Kofu and Melbourne might struggle to survive there.
- In all, Kofu have not tasted defeat in their last 7 home games in all competitions and they are brimming with high hopes ahead of the fixture.
- Since losing 1-0 to Iwata in mid-August, Kofu have picked 17 out of the available 21 home points.
- Kofu don't just pick the points, they also add goals as they have scored 14 goals in 7 games - an average of 2 goals per game.
- Melbourne City have looked shaky in their last two away games as they have conceded 7 goals and scored none in two defeats to Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix - both games on the road.
- Interestingly, both of Melbourne City's wins in the competition so far have come on the road as they are yet to win a home game.
- This leaves it at a contest between the best home side and a side that performs well on the road in the competition.
KEY STATS & H2H ANALYSIS
- Kofu have scored 5 goals and conceded 3
- Melbourne have scored 4 and conceded 2
- Both sides have 7 points apiece and occupy the top spot
The opening game of the group for the sides were against each other at the AAMI Park in Melbourne which ended goalless. Any place who puts the ball into the net would go into the history books as having scored the first goal in games between the two sides.
Probable XI vs Melbourne City: Woud - Sekiguchi, Kobayashi, Mancha, Inoue - Miyazaki, Hayashida, Nakamura, Getulio - Iijima, Utaka
Probable XI vs Kofu: Young - Galloway, Pereira Rels, Souprayen, Belhich - Ugarkovic, Leo Natel, Sakhi, Arslan - Jakolis, Maclaren.
Prediction: Ventforet Kofu 2-0 Melbourne City
