Nagoya Grampus vs Ratchaburi

Nagoya Grampus are warm favorites to maintain their eye-catching AFC Champions League start as they meet basement boys Ratchaburi at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Nagoya have already put one foot into the Champions League knock-out phase following a stunning start to their Group G campaign that saw them win each of their opening three group stage fixtures ‘to nil.’ Equally impressive in the attacking third, the Japanese giants have netted 3+ goals in their last two Champions League outings, tallying eight so far. Particularly dangerous in the later stages of play, Massimo Ficcadenti’s men have got on the scoresheet on or beyond the 60th minute in each of their three Group G fixtures thus far. Interestingly, though, Nagoya had drawn a blank in three consecutive games in all competitions before mustering up a resounding average of 3.25 goals across their last four competitive contests. Odds-on favorites to solidify a top spot in this section, Nagoya hammered Ratchaburi 4-0 in the reverse fixture a few days ago.

As for Ratchaburi, they are on the cusp of exiting the competition after losing their opening three Group G matches by an aggregate score of 7-0. Another noteworthy takeaway from Ratchaburi’s underwhelming displays in the Champions League this term is that they have yet to keep a second-half clean sheet. Additionally, the visitors head into proceedings having failed to win any of their last seven games in all competitions (D2, L5), conceding 2+ goals on five occasions while drawing a blank five times. Away from home, the ‘Dragons’ have gone from back-to-back victories to four straight fixtures without winning (D1, L3), letting in precisely two goals on each occasion.