Al Ain vs Yokohama F. Marinos prediction and betting tips - May 25, 2024

The second leg of the AFC Champions League final between Al Ain and Yokohama F. Marinos will take place on May 25, 2024. To claim the coveted trophy, the home team needs to overcome a 1-2 deficit from the first leg in Japan. The visitors only need a draw to secure success.

Key Statistics and Trends:

Al Ain:

• They have lost 5 of their last 7 official matches.

• In the AFC Champions League, they are performing better than in domestic competition

Yokohama F. Marinos:

• They have lost all of their last 5 matches, except for their win in the first leg of the semifinals.

• Their form in the AFC Champions League is contrasting sharply with their poor domestic performance.

Al Ain - Form Analysis:

"The Boss" still holds the record for the most titles in the UAE, but they finished second last season and cannot rise above third this season. Their domestic matches have been rescheduled to accommodate their AFC Champions League commitments. They eliminated Al-Nassr (featuring Ronaldo) and the formidable Al-Hilal after Nasaaf. However, they lost 2-1 in Japan in the first leg.

Yokohama F. Marinos - Form Analysis:

The "Sailors" failed to defend their J-League title last season, finishing second. This season, they are underperforming by their historical standards. However, their AFC Champions League campaign has been impressive, reminding fans of their early 90s successes. They have progressed past Bangkok United, Shandong Taishan, and Ulsan Hyundai (the latter required penalties). In the first leg of the final, they showed resilience by coming from behind to win 2-1 last Saturday.

Team News:

Al Ain:

Coach Crespo has no significant injury concerns.

Yokohama F. Marinos:

Coach Kewell has his best players available for the decisive match.

Possible Starting Lineups:

• Al Ain (possible lineup): Essa - Mohammed, Otonne, Hashemi, Abdoul Karim Traoré - Nader, Pak Yeong-woo, Mohammed Abbas Ahmed Abdulla Hasan Al Baloushi - Palacios, Romero, Raimi

• Yokohama F. Marinos (possible lineup): Pop - Nagato, Dudu, Hatanaka, Matsubara - Nam Tae-hee, Kida, Uenaka - Elber, Anderson Lopes, Yan

Previous Matches:

The first leg was the first official match between these teams.

Free Prediction for Al Ain vs Yokohama F. Marinos on May 25:

While the match might be entertaining, it is crucial to remember its decisive nature. The visitors only need a draw and are likely to adopt a defensive approach. Therefore, betting on "under 3.5 goals" seems prudent (odds – 1.6).