The Yokohama Derby is one of the top treats in the Meiji Yasuda J.League, featuring two teams with such an intertwined history fighting for city supremacy and you can watch the latest edition on Saturday at 6:30 pm JST when Yokohama F·Marinos and Yokohama FC square off live on the J.League International YouTube channel.
Marinos were formed by the merger of Yokohama Marinos and Yokohama Flügels in 1999, giving birth to a club that has been one of Japan’s best, but that did not sit well with some Flügels supporters. Instead of backing the new club, they opted to start a brand new club and Yokohama FC was born as the first professional Japanese club to be owned and operated by its fans.
For 24 years now, the two clubs have shared Yokohama and the derby has been one of the peaks of the city’s soccer calendar, making Saturday’s clash a must-watch event.
Giving added meaning to this meeting is the stakes involved for both teams.
Marinos are chasing a second consecutive league title and currently hold a two-point lead over second place Vissel Kobe. With the fight for the J1 crown so tight, every match could be the difference between winning Japanese football’s ultimate prize or being runner up.
Things are quite different for Yokohama FC, who sit down in 17th place and just one point clear of the relegation zone. It’s always been a battle for the Fulie to get into the top flight and remain there, with this being just their fourth season in J1, but it would be massive for the club if they could earn survival this year.
The question for the Fulie is whether their defense can hold up against the Tricolor. They’ve allowed 44 goals in 24 matches this season, the second-worst mark in the league, and conceded five to Marinos in their meeting earlier this season. If the back line can put together their best 90 minutes and keep their rivals at bay, they may have a chance to steal a magnificent result.
Keeping Marinos at bay is no easy task. They are averaging two goals per match this season, the best mark in the league, and are led by phenomenal attacking players like Anderson Lopes, Yan Matheus, Kota Mizunuma and Élber. With that type of firepower, it’s not hard to imagine why they are sitting in first place.
Will Marinos win the battle for and retain their spot atop the table? Or will Yokohama FC pull off the upset that not only makes waves in the relegation race, but hands them bragging rights over the city and deals their rivals a massive blow? Find out Saturday, live on the J.League International YouTube channel.
