Vessel Kobe take on the visitors Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the round 5 match of Japanese J1 League. The match will be played on Wednesday, July 2nd at Noevir Stadium (Kobe).
Vissel Kobe are trying to climb back to the top. The Ushi will celebrate their 60th anniversary next season—a significant milestone by Asian football standards. However, they only managed to reach the summit recently, securing their first-ever league title in 2023, and then not only defended the title but also completed a historic double by adding just their second Emperor’s Cup. The start of 2025, however, was far from smooth: a disappointing run in the AFC Champions League, where they were eliminated by Gwangju after suffering a heavy defeat despite winning the first leg 2-0, and a string of poor results in the domestic league. Gradually, though, Yoshida managed to stabilize the team, and by summer, Vissel were winning the vast majority of their games, closing the gap to the league leaders. Nevertheless, their most recent outing ended in a goalless draw against Avispa Fukuoka—a result that felt more like two points dropped than one gained. Despite that stumble, Vissel remain one of the strongest home sides in the league, having lost just once at home in their last nine matches. Their defensive improvements have been notable, with four clean sheets in their last six games.
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima are eight-time champions of Japan, although their most recent title dates back to 2015. That long wait nearly ended last season, but they ultimately finished four points behind Vissel Kobe. On the positive side, they kicked off this year with a Super Cup victory—ironically, against the reigning champions. However, the new league campaign has been much more competitive, and their results have been less consistent. Sanfrecce have won just over half of their matches, but the number of defeats is starting to become a concern. They ended the spring with a disappointing 1-2 home loss to Kawasaki Frontale, although they did bounce back in June with a thumping away win over Yokohama. Their momentum, however, came to an abrupt halt with a 1-2 home defeat against Nagoya Grampus, raising further questions about their form against top-half sides. Another worrying trend is their away defense, having conceded in seven of their last eight matches on the road.
In the last five meetings, both sides have claimed two wins each. The defending champions will be favorites at home, but their form has shown some vulnerabilities, and the opponent is strong enough to challenge. The best bet is on Vissel Kobe to win with a 0 handicap (draw no bet).
Prediction for the match: Vissel Kobe to win with 0,0 handicap.
