Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kyoto Sanga

Edion Stadium Hiroshima is the venue as Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kyoto Sanga go head-to-head in a top-half J1 League encounter.

Hiroshima head into proceedings amid a rotten patch, having won just one of their last five J1 League matches (D3, L1). The hosts can take some confidence from keeping a clean sheet in back-to-back league games ahead of this weekend, which has been the case in three of their last five top-flight H2Hs (W4, L1). Michael Skibbe’s men have been too hot to handle at home of late, racking up four wins in their five previous competitive outings at the Edion Stadium Hiroshima (L1), all of which came ‘to nil.’ Hiroshima may need another flying start to grab an all-important win here, as they’ve gone winless in both home league fixtures in which they conceded first this term (D1, L1).

On the other hand, visiting Kyoto have alternated between drawing (2) and losing (2) across their last four J1 League matches since a scintillating 2-0 win at Kashiwa Reysol in mid-April. Despite their sticky patch, the visitors can rely on their 83% unbeaten ratio on the road this J1 League season (W2, D3, L1). Conceding first may not dent Kyoto’s hopes of arresting their underwhelming six-game losing streak at Hiroshima in all competitions. Cho Kwi-jae’s lads have come from behind to avoid defeat in two of their three away league fixtures after falling behind thus far this term (W1, D1, L1).