Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Hiroshimavs.Vissel Kobe

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 July 2024, 00:27
Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe get round 22 of the Japanese J1 League underway when they square off at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on Friday.

Takayuki Yoshida's men have failed to win any of their previous nine away games against the Sanfrecce and will head into the weekend looking to end this poor run.

Match preview

Sanfrecce Hiroshima turned in a resilient team performance last Saturday when they fought back from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Kawasaki Frontale at the Todoroki Athletics Stadium.

Brazilian striker Marcinho opened the scoring midway through the first half to put Kawasaki Frontale in front but Makoto Mitsuta struck with two minutes left in the game to force a share of the spoils.

With last weekend's result, Sanfrecce Hiroshima have now gone unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games, claiming three draws and eight wins, including an 11-2 hammering of amateur side Baleine Shimonoseki in the Emperor Cup second round on June 12.

Michael Skibbe's side have now picked up 11 wins and four draws in their 21 J1 League matches this season to collect 34 points and sit seventh in the league standings, three points behind Friday's visitors.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima now return home, where they have won all but one of their most recent five matches across all competitions, with a 1-1 draw against Albirex Niigata on June 26 being the exception.

Over in Hyogo, Vissel Kobe returned to winning ways as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Kashima Antlers when the sides squared off at the Misaki Park Stadium on Sunday.

Aleksandar Cavric struck against the run of play in the eighth minute to put Kashima Antlers in front, but Yoshinori Muto, Thuler and Yuya Osako all found the back of the net to turn the game on its head.

Being just their second win in seven league matches since mid May, head coach Yoshida will be heartened by his side's spirited display at the weekend as they continue their site into the upper echelons of the table.

Vissel Kobe have picked up 11 wins from their 21 J1 League matches while losing six and claiming four draws to collect 37 points and sit fourth in the league table, six points off first-placed Machida Zelvia.

While the Ushi will be looking to secure consecutive wins for the first time since May, they have struggled for results on the road, where they are currently on a four-game winless run, claiming one draw and losing three, including a penalty-shootout defeat against Kataller Toyama in the Japanese Cup third round on May 22.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima J1 League form:

W

W

L

W

D

D

Vissel Kobe J1 League form:

L

D

W

L

D

W

Team News

Sanfrecce Hiroshima will take to the pitch without 23-year-old midfielder Taichi Yamasaki, who has been out of action since March through a cruciate ligament injury.

Sho Sasaki, Shuto Nakano and Tsukasa Shiotani have started each of Sanfrecce's last three matches and should retain their roles in the back three, shielding 24-year-old goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.

As for Vissel Kobe, Gotoku Sakai was forced off with a first-half injury against Kashima last weekend and the veteran full-back is a major doubt for Friday's game.

Should he fail to shake off the injury, 26-year-old Ryo Hatsuse should return to the fold, forming the back four with Tetsushi Yamakawa, Thuler and 33-year-old Yuki Honda.

Former Shonan Bellmare midfielder Mitsuki Saito continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through a torn knee ligament and the 25-year-old is also out of contention for the Ushi.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima possible starting lineup:

Osako; Hatsuse, Nakano, Shiotani; Mitsuta, Higashi, Matsumoto, Arai; Vieira, Kato, Ohashi

Vissel Kobe possible starting lineup:

Maekawa, Sakai, Yamakawa, Thuler, Honda; Yamaguchi, Ide; Muto, Osako, Hirose

We say: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-1 Vissel Kobe

Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe are currently separated by just three points in the top half of the table, we anticipate a thrilling contest on Friday. Both sides have put together a fine run of results in recent weeks and we predict they will cancel out each other's efforts at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have no hope of clawing back their 12-point Premier League deficit to Liverpool despite the Reds' recent problems, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among the clubs who have discovered the asking price of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs who could reportedly pip rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil and Colombia go head-to-head in the 38th instalment of this international fixture in Brasilia on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk There will be no return to the Brazil fold for Neymar in their clash with Colombia on Thursday night, as he has pulled out of the upcoming squad with injury. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel not only raised eyebrows with his selections in his first England squad - but also with his omissions.