6.18 Football Predictions: A Data Analyst’s Take

J-League: Sapporo vs Oita

Sapporo, the relegated team, has been underwhelming this season, sitting mid-table in J2 League. Their recent form shows resilience (only 1 loss in 6 games) but a lack of winning momentum (4 draws). Oita, consistently mid-table, has historically matched up well against Sapporo. My model favors Oita to avoid defeat in regular time.

Prediction: Oita +0.5 | Goal Range: 2-4

K-League: Daejeon vs Gimcheon

Daejeon started strong but has slumped recently (1 win in 7). Gimcheon snapped a 4-game winless streak last week but struggles against Daejeon historically. With Daejeon well-rested (15-day break), they’re poised to exploit Gimcheon’s fatigue.

Prediction: Daejeon -0.5 | Goal Range: 2-4

Club World Cup: Man City vs Raja Casablanca

A mismatch on paper. Man City’s squad depth (Rodri back, new signings) dwarfs Raja’s. Expect a dominant display from Pep’s side.

Prediction: Man City -2.5 | Goal Range: 3-5

UEFA U21 Euros: Denmark vs Finland

Denmark, already qualified, may rotate. Finland must win but lacks firepower against Nordic rivals.

Prediction: Denmark DNB | Goal Range: 2-4

Full Match List with Predictions

1. Helsinki vs Haka: Helsinki -1 (but risky at odds)
2. Real Madrid vs Al-Hilal: Madrid ML (new manager bounce)
3. Slovenia U21 vs Czech U21: Czech +0.5
4. England U21 vs Germany U21: Germany +0.5
5. Pachuca vs Salzburg: Salzburg ML

All predictions leverage team form, H2H stats, and my proprietary efficiency algorithms.

Data source: Opta, FBRef | Model v3.2