The big picture

Sanfrecce Hiroshima come in 3rd on the ladder with 30 points; Vissel Kobe are 5th on 27. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are 21–10–2 in J1 League 2026, averaging 1.9 goals for and 1 against.

Vissel Kobe are 19–10–2 in J1 League 2026, averaging 1.6 goals for and 1.1 against.

Form

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have won four of their last five and most recently beat Mito Hollyhock 3–0.

Vissel Kobe have won three of their last five and most recently beat Ratchaburi 3–2.

Vissel Kobe arrive on a 3-game winning streak.

Head to head

These sides have met 10 times on our records since 2022: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1, Vissel Kobe 7, 2 drawn.

Last time out (2026, Vissel Kobe win 5-4 on penalties), Vissel Kobe won 1–1 at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.

Vissel Kobe have won the last five against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Biggest margin between these two: Vissel Kobe by 4 goals in 2022 (4–0).

Players to watch

For Sanfrecce Hiroshima, watch Akito Suzuki (0.5 goals a game, 9 assists in 2026) and Mutsuki Kato (0.2 goals a game, 5 assists in 2026).

For Vissel Kobe, watch Ren Komatsu (0.7 goals a game in 2026-27) and Yuya Kuwasaki (0.3 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026-27).

Milestone watch

Shuto Nakano is set to play game 150.

At Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have won 15 of their last 20 at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima.

What the numbers say

On the numbers this is too close to split.