Sunday's J1 League match between Albirex Niigata and Shonan Bellmare at the Denka Big Swan Stadium is a meeting of two teams that are currently mired in game uncertainty and result inefficiency.

Albirex Niigata will be looking to atone for a 0-2 loss in their cup match against Tokyo Verdy, but it's not just about one underwhelming performance - their form on home soil is alarming. Twelve home league games without a win is not a random blip, but a chronic problem that is exacerbated by defensive uncertainty. They have been held to a goal in five of their last six games, conceding eight goals in total, which only underlines their vulnerability in defence. Only injured defender Hiroki Akiyama is out.

Shonan Bellmare, on the other hand, comes in buoyed by a 1-0 cup triumph over FC Tokyo, but their league form is no cause for great optimism either. Bellmare's offense is one of the weakest in the league - they have scored just twice in their last six games. This sterility in attack severely limits their potential, and although they have only scored six times in the same period, the ineffectiveness of their attack regularly robs them of points. The absentees on Shonan Bellmare's side will be significant in this match and could be the deciding factor. Coach Satoshi Yamaguchi will not be able to count on six players: Sena Ishibashi, Kanaru Matsumoto, Taiyo Hiraoka, Soki Tamura, Zé Ricardo and Tatsunari Nagai.

In the last six duels between these rivals, an average of over three goals per game (3.17) has fallen, with Albirex scoring one more than Shonan (10 vs. 9). However, this does not create a significant advantage for either team.

The match thus appears to be a confrontation of two teams that need to improve in many areas of their game. Albirex hasn't won at home yet this season, can they do it on Sunday? Shonan in their current form could be a passable opponent. My tip is OVER 2.5 goals at odds of around 2.40. GL!