Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima, J. League 2025 REGULAR SEASON

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J. League · 2025

Albirex Niigata

0 – 2

Full Time

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Sun 20 Jul 2025 · 10:00 UTC Denka Big Swan Stadium HT 45' · FT 45'

Michael Fitzgerald 69' Y

Kazuhiko Chiba 82' Y

Overview

Match Preview

Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima — J. League at Denka Big Swan Stadium.

Albirex Niigata 0 games · 0 pts (2026/27)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 18 games · 30 pts (2026/27)

Standings

#	Team	P	Pts
1	Vissel Kobe	18	35
2	Cerezo Osaka FC	18	31
3	Nagoya Grampus	18	31
4	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	18	30
5	Gamba Osaka	18	28
6	Fagiano Okayama FC	18	26
7	Shimizu S-Pulse	18	24
8	Kyōto Sanga FC	18	23
9	V-Varen Nagasaki	18	21
10	Avispa Fukuoka	18	21
11	Kashima Antlers	18	45
12	FC Tōkyō	18	37
13	FC Machida Zelvia	18	37
14	Kawasaki Frontale	18	28
15	Tōkyō Verdy	18	28
16	Urawa Red Diamonds	18	25
17	Kashiwa Reysol	18	20
18	Yokohama F·Marinos	18	20
19	FC Mito Holly Hock	18	18
20	JEF United Ichihara Chiba	18	12

Head-to-Head

Albirex Niigata 6 games · Avg 2.0 goals Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Last 5 meetings

2025-07-20 Albirex Niigata 0–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2025-04-29 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–1 Albirex Niigata 2024-06-26 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–1 Albirex Niigata 2024-05-03 Albirex Niigata 1–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2023-07-01 Albirex Niigata 2–0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Recent Form

Albirex Niigata

Date	Opponent	H/A	Score	Result
20 Jul	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	H	0–2	L
05 Jul	Kyōto Sanga FC	A	1–2	L
29 Jun	FC Machida Zelvia	H	0–4	L
25 Jun	Kawasaki Frontale	A	1–3	L
21 Jun	Avispa Fukuoka	A	2–3	L
15 Jun	Yokohama F·Marinos	H	1–0	W

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Date	Opponent	H/A	Score	Result
20 Jul	Albirex Niigata	A	2–0	W
05 Jul	Fagiano Okayama FC	A	1–0	W
02 Jul	Vissel Kobe	A	0–1	L
28 Jun	Nagoya Grampus	H	1–2	L
22 Jun	Yokohama FC	A	4–0	W
14 Jun	Kashima Antlers	A	1–1	D

Key Stats

50% Both Teams to Score
H2H (6 games)

17% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history

62% Clean Sheets
Sanfrecce Hiroshima this season

Goal Timing (This Season)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

0-15

1/1

16-30

4/2

31-45

4/2

46-60

7/2

61-75

7/1

76+

6/2

■ Scored ■ Conceded

Top Scorers (This Season)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Akito Suzuki	10 G	4 A
Mutsuki Kato	3 G	3 A
Shuto Nakano	3 G	2 A
Shun Ayukawa	3 G	1 A
Sebastien Haller	3 G	1 A

Events

Match Events

0' The wait is over. Albirex Niigata get us underway at Denka Big Swan Stadium.
2' Sanfrecce Hiroshima is taking the lead after the goal scored by Shunki Higashi on 2.
7' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
12' Albirex Niigata currently sit in the Array table. A result here could be decisive in the race for the top positions.
17' will be watching from the dugout nervously. His Albirex Niigata side need to improve if they are to claim all three points.
22' It looks surprising Albirex Niigata does not make any changes. Mutsuki Kato has some obvious troubles when approaching to the goal.
27' Albirex Niigata are deployed in a today, looking to exploit space against Sanfrecce Hiroshima's shape.
32' It looks like no one’s ball. Albirex Niigata is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
37' has dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning 0 of the last 0 meetings.
42' Kosuke Kinoshita has been relatively quiet despite scoring 28 goals in his last 272 appearances.
47' Both keepers have barely been tested. Albirex Niigata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
48' Against the run of play, Kosuke Kinoshita has scored! This game has turned on its head.
53' Both teams are passing the ball around with high level of urgency. Sanfrecce Hiroshima needs to do something about it to get closer to the goal.
58' The 30-year-old Naoto Arai has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
59' Another substitution for Albirex Niigata to replace Keisuke Kasai by Takuya Shimamura on 59 minute.
64' Sanfrecce Hiroshima started playing very sharply right from the kick off. However, it slowed down the tempo rapidly by 64.
69' The referee reaches into his pocket. Out comes the card for Michael Fitzgerald.
71' It is a substitution in Sanfrecce Hiroshima team. Kosuke Kinoshita is replaced by Mutsuki Kato on 71 minute.
72' Kakeru Funaki is ready to make an impact after coming on for Yuto Horigome at the 72 minute mark.
77' Supporters expect more eagerness from Eiji Shirai, as he is very good at scoring at Denka Big Swan Stadium with 2 goals in the last 2 games.
79' Sanfrecce Hiroshima ring the changes. Hayato Araki has done his job and it is now time for Naoto Arai to step up.
82' Controversy at the stadium! Kazuhiko Chiba argues furiously but the card stands.
84' It is a substitution in Albirex Niigata team. Jin Okumura is replaced by Ken Yamura on 84 minute.
89' Spectators are craving for more action. Both teams play very cautiously. They need to put some more energy.
90' A tactical swap from Sanfrecce Hiroshima — Valere Germain on, Ryo Germain off on 90 minutes.
The final score is 0-2.

Lineups

Albirex Niigata Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

77
Kakeru Funaki ↑ 72'
19
Yuji Hoshi ↑ 59'
18
Yamato Wakatsuki
28
Takuya Shimamura ↑ 59'
42
Kento Hashimoto ↑ 71'
15
Fumiya Hayakawa
33
Yoshiaki Takagi
9
Ken Yamura ↑ 84'
21
Ryuga Tashiro

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

10
Marcos Junior
98
Valere Germain ↑ 90'
18
Daiki Suga
41
Naoki Maeda ↑ 90'
13
Naoto Arai ↑ 79'
32
Sota Koshimichi
21
Yudai Tanaka II
35
Yotaro Nakajima ↑ 71'
51
Mutsuki Kato ↑ 71'

H2H

H2H Top Scorers

Player	Goals
Hayato Araki	1
Yoshiaki Takagi	1
Pieros Sotiriou	1
Kaito Taniguchi	1
Miguel Silveira	1
Shunki Higashi	1
Kosuke Kinoshita	1
Naoto Arai	1

Head to Head

Albirex Niigata Form

2025-07-20 Albirex Niigata 0–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima L 2025-07-05 Kyōto Sanga FC 2–1 Albirex Niigata L 2025-06-29 Albirex Niigata 0–4 FC Machida Zelvia L 2025-06-25 Kawasaki Frontale 3–1 Albirex Niigata L 2025-06-21 Avispa Fukuoka 3–2 Albirex Niigata L 2025-06-15 Albirex Niigata 1–0 Yokohama F·Marinos W

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Form

2025-07-20 Albirex Niigata 0–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima W 2025-07-05 Fagiano Okayama FC 0–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima W 2025-07-02 Vissel Kobe 1–0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima L 2025-06-28 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–2 Nagoya Grampus L 2025-06-22 Yokohama FC 0–4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima W 2025-06-14 Kashima Antlers 1–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima D

Predictions

Prediction accuracy

3 / 4

0.94 Albirex Niigata xG

Expected Goals

Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo

1.29 Sanfrecce Hiroshima xG

I would bet for: Sanfrecce Hiroshima or Draw 72% + Under 2.5 goals 62%

Match Result

✓ Correct

Albirex Niigata28% Draw31% Sanfrecce Hiroshima41%

Actual: Sanfrecce Hiroshima win

Both Teams to Score

✓ Correct

Yes45% 0% No55%

Avg goals/match: 2.23

Actual: No — clean sheet

Over / Under Goals

✓ O/U 2.5

Line	Over	Under
± 0.5	87%	13%
± 1.5	65%	35%
± 2.5	38%	62%
± 3.5	19%	81%
± 4.5	8%	92%

Double Chance

Albirex Niigata or Draw

59%

Draw or Sanfrecce Hiroshima

72%

Albirex Niigata or Sanfrecce Hiroshima

69%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong

Albirex Niigata19% Draw52% Sanfrecce Hiroshima29%

Actual: Sanfrecce Hiroshima win at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12

1 – 1

14%

0 – 0

13.1%

0 – 1

12.7%

1 – 0

8.9%

0 – 2

Actual

1 – 2

8.2%

2 – 1

5.9%

2 – 0

4.5%

2 – 2

3.9%

0 – 3

3.7%

1 – 3

3.6%

3 – 1

1.9%

Asian Handicap — Albirex Niigata

Handicap	Albirex Niigata covers	Push	Sanfrecce Hiroshima covers
-2.5	2%	—	98%
-2	2%	7%	91%
-1.5	9%	—	91%
-1	9%	16%	75%
-0.5	25%	—	75%
+0.5	57%	—	43%
+1	57%	23%	20%
+1.5	80%	—	20%
+2	80%	13%	7%
+2.5	93%	—	7%

Clean Sheet

Albirex Niigata keeps clean sheet

28% ✓

Sanfrecce Hiroshima keeps clean sheet

40% ✗

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.