Sanfrecce Hiroshima

vs

Kawasaki Frontale

Preview

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

• Sanfrecce Hiroshima are on a three-game winning streak.
• They have scored eight goals in their last two games.
• They finished fourth in the West group of the 2026 J1 '100 Year Vision' on around 27 points.
• Bartosch Gaul was appointed in the winter of 2026 and has implemented a high-intensity, three-at-the-back system using wing-backs.

Kawasaki Frontale

• Kawasaki Frontale have been inconsistent, registering two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five.
• They finished sixth in the Eastern section on around 25 points from 17 matches.
• Shigetoshi Hasebe’s team play a four-back structure with high-tempo pressing and fast-paced interchanges.
• They are more attack-minded, using overlapping full-backs with wingers and midfielders to create overloads.

Head-to-Head

• Kawasaki hold the edge at around 20 wins to Sanfrecce’s 10 - 12 from 40 - 45 meetings.
• The last two clashes were a 2-2 draw in April 2024 and Kawasaki won 2-1 in May 2025.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

• Sanfrecce scored 4 goals in each of their two most recent wins (4-2 and 4-0).
• Akito Suzuki has been scoring in recent games and is enjoying a strong spell.
• Sota Nakamura has added dynamism and Hayao Kawabe provides good service from deep.

Kawasaki Frontale

• Erison is Kawasaki’s main striker and their top scorer for 2026.
• Yasuto Wakizaka can pull the strings from deep and is a set-piece threat.
• Lazar Romanić and Marcinho add variety and positional flexibility.

Betting Insights

• Sanfrecce are priced at 1.64 to win, Frontale at 4.74, and the draw at 4.05.
• The Both teams to score - Yes market is available at 1.67.
• The Both teams to score odds look short given both teams’ recent attacking form.

Prediction

• This looks set to be a tight, tactical first leg.
• We side with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and back them on the Draw no bet line.