Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Preview: Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Yokohama F Marinos - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 June 2023, 21:59
Arguably the pick of the matches in the J1 League this weekend will see Sanfrecce Hiroshima welcome high-flyers Yokohama F Marinos to Edion Stadium on Saturday.

It is a match of huge significance as the hosts, currently in fifth place in the league, will be looking to remain within touching distance of the AFC Champions League qualification spots, while the visitors will want to maintain their standing at the top of the league table.

Match preview

Following an easy win over lower-league opponents FC Tokushima in the Emperor Cup two weeks ago, Hiroshima come into this match off the back of two costly defeats that saw them lose their final group stage match in the J-League Cup and drop a place in the league standings in the space of a week.

Since their five-match winning streak in the league back in April, the hosts have managed just four wins in the next nine matches heading into this one, including a 1-0 loss in their most recent match against Kawasaki Frontale.

Hiroshima were unable to create many big chances in that match, registering just two shots on target, and never really looked likely to recover after going behind just before the hour mark.

While their overall record shows inconsistency, the hosts hold a decent home record in the league with five wins, one draw and two losses in their eight matches at Edion Stadium, and they are currently on a three-match winning streak, securing consecutive victories over Avispa Fukuoka, Shonan Bellmare and Kyoto Sanga.

Despite finishing behind this opponent in the last two seasons, Hiroshima have held their own in this contest and are unbeaten against them in their last three encounters, drawing the reverse match this season and knocking them out of the J-League Cup last term.

The reigning champions come into this one in excellent attacking form, having smashed in 10 goals in their last two matches with a 4-3 win over Kashiwa Reysol in the league and a 6-1 thumping of Sagan Tosu, which secured them the top spot in Group A of the J-League Cup.

Against Kashiwa Reysol, Anderson Lopes stuck away a penalty inside the first 15 minutes of the match and doubled his tally shortly after their opponents were reduced to 10 men, making him the outright leader in the top goalscorer standings with 13, two clear of Vissel Kobe forward Yuya Osako.

With those wins, the visitors are now on a five-match winning streak in all competitions and are ahead of Nagoya and Vissel Kobe in the league by one and three points respectively, though the latter have played a game less and do possess a better goal difference as it stands.

Yokohama F Marinos have only suffered three defeats in the J1 League this season, and all of them came in away matches, meaning that the visitors currently have only the fourth-best away record this season with five wins, one draw and three losses in nine matches.

With Nagoya and Vissel Kobe both playing bottom-half opponents this weekend, Hiroshima have to find a way of bringing their three-match winless run against this opponent to an end here, or they could find themselves dropping out of pole position, potentially all the way to third, as we head into the second half of the season.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima J1 League form:

L

L

W

L

W

L

Yokohama F Marinos J1 League form:

W

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

Michael Skibbe will have two absentees to contend with for this important fixture, with Makoto Mitsuta (cruciate ligament injury) and Pieros Sotiriou (thigh strain) both expected to remain sidelined for a while longer.

In search of a spark at the top end of the pitch, Skibbe changed his side's formation to a 3-5-2 shortly after the break in their loss to Kawasaki Frontale by bringing on attacker Nassim Ben Khalifa in place of Gakuto Notsuda, and he may opt for a similar move from the start in this one.

Katsuya Nagato picked up two yellow cards in their cup win over Sagan Tosu, meaning that he will be suspended for this match, and that should result in either Yuki Saneto or Yuta Koike being brought into the left-back role in his absence.

Kevin Muscat is a little short of options in defence with injuries to Ryuta Koike (knee), Ryotaro Tsunoda (foot) and goalkeeper Hiroki Iikura (leg), but at the other end of the pitch, Lopes will almost certainly lead the line for the league leaders as he aims to add to his already-impressive tally for the season.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima possible starting lineup:

Osako; Sumiyoshi, Araki, Sasaki; Higashi, Kawamura, Koshimichi, Ezequiel, Morishima; Khalifa, Vieira

Yokohama F Marinos possible starting lineup:

Ichimori; Matsubara, Hatanaka, Dudu, Koike; Kida, Watanabe, Elber, Junior, Matheus; Lopes

We say: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Yokohama F Marinos

While Yokohama F Marinos have the best attacking record this season with 37 goals, they have also conceded the most of any side in the top half of the table, and it seems unlikely that they will maintain a clean sheet here either.

However, Muscat's main plan of action so far this season seems to be based on outscoring their opponents, and we fancy that they will do just that in this match.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Italy and Germany will continue their long-standing footballing rivalry when they meet in a two-legged quarter-final in the UEFA Nations League this week, starting with a showdown in Milan on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa are reportedly prepared to cash in on midfielder Enzo Barrenechea during the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com There will be no Premier League football this weekend as the top-flight pauses for a scheduled mid-March break. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal intend to begin formal discussions with Bukayo Saka over a new contract ahead of his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury, according to a report. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Abdukodir Khusanov was welcomed home in style as he received a £135,000 Mercedes upon returning to Uzbekistan for international duty. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest are reportedly ready to fend off Liverpool if they express an interest in one of their star players. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kosovo will host Iceland at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri on Thursday evening in the first of their two-legged matchup in the UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoffs. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Next season The Premier League will be provided match balls by Puma, a decision that is likely to be an unpopular one with Mikel Arteta. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly prepared to let one of their first-team midfielders leave the club in the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hong Kong and Macao return to international action for the first time in 2025 on Wednesday, when they meet in a friendly at Mong Kok Stadium. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have condemned the "abhorrent" racist abuse directed at defender Wesley Fofana following Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he would like to return to Tottenham Hotspur at some stage in the future. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Bournemouth are leading the race to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher ahead of their Premier League rivals, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk For the first time in the CONCACAF Nations League, Canada and Mexico will face each other, with a spot in the final at stake on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In the first semi-final of the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, the reigning three-time champions, the USA, host Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in California. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday Jordan will look to climb into a top two position when they host Palestine at Amman International Stadium on matchday seven of the World Cup 2026 qualification cycle for both teams. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to step up their pursuit of Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen over the international break. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly included Victor Osimhen on a four-man striker shortlist for the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town have reportedly been impressed by Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland but could face competition from Sunderland for his signature. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first international break of the year will see Liberia take on Tunisia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex this Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first clash in this international break's double-header sees the Central African Republic face Madagascar at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in neutral Morocco on Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying series. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly prepared to consider selling Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as it emerges they have seemingly made contact with Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. 17 March 2025 talksport.com A Bulgarian first division team held a minute's silence for a former player... only to later discover he's still alive. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi has been omitted from Argentina's squad list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. 17 March 2025 talksport.com After some backlash to his claims that he's the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has some support in the opposition dugout. 17 March 2025 talksport.com After some backlash to his claims that he's the greatest of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has some support in the opposition dugout. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning European champions Barcelona Women will head to Germany for Wednesday's Women's Champions League clash against Wolfsburg Women. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Just a few days after they face off in the Women's League Cup final, Manchester City Women will lock horns with Chelsea Women in the first leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-finals. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has left the club, the Premier League side have announced.