Bahrain vs Japan Prediction & Match Preview

• Japan go into this on the back of 12 wins in the last 13 games in all competitions.
• Bahrain lost three of their last five outings across competitions.
• Japan bagged at least three goals in 11 of the last 13 matches across competitions.

Record-holding four-time AFC Asian Cup champions Japan will lock horns with Bahrain in the last 16 round of the competition on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium. Samurai Blue enter the tie as enormous favorites for a good reason, having won 12 of the previous 13 games in all competitions.

The lone defeat during this run for Hajime Moriyasu’s men came in the second round of the AFC Asian Cup when Japan shockingly fell 1-2 at the hands of Iraq. Samurai Blue responded to that loss with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Indonesia to lock the second place in the section and book this affair against surprising Group E winners Bahrain.

Bahrain have managed back-to-back AFC Asian Cup wins for the first time in their history, dispatching Malaysia and Jordan with a 1-0 win each in the final two group games. They had earlier suffered a tough 1-3 defeat at the hands of Korea Republic on the opening day of the competition.

Recent Meetings

• The two teams last met each other in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifications when Japan claimed a 2-0 win at home.
• Japan have seven wins and two losses in the last nine encounters with Bahrain.
• Bahrain failed to find the back of the net in four of the previous five outings against Japan.

Bahrain vs Japan Prediction

Japan are enjoying a fantastic attacking form. They scored three or more goals in 11 of the last 13 matches in all competitions. The run includes a 4-2 win over Vietnam and a 3-1 victory over Indonesia in the group stage of the 2024 AFC Asian Cup. Bahrain, on the other side, lost three of the last five games across competitions. The Pearl Divers lost seven of the last nine head-to-head matches against Japan. We will back Japan to win by two or more goals at the 1.65 odds.

The Over 2.5 goals FT pick is another decent betting option at the 1.61 odds. All but one of Japan’s last 14 games in all competitions produced three or more goals. Bahrain allowed at least two goals in three consecutive defeats across competitions (including a 1-3 loss to Korea Republic at the beginning of the group phase). We can hardly see them keeping things quiet at the back against this free-scoring Japanese side.

Steffen Schmidt- January 29, 2024

Bahrain vs Japan Betting Tips

Japan to win in -1.5 Asian Handicap

OK

	1.65 Odds
	1.65 Odds

Over 2.5 goals

OK

1.60 Odds

Correct Score: Japan 3-1

OK

	12.00 Odds
	9.50 Odds