Preview: Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Vissel Kobe

Sports Mole previews Friday’s J1 League clash between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

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
© Imago

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:

Vissel Kobe J1 League form:

Team News
© Imago

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.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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