The focus of the Japanese League: Kobe faces Hiroshima Sanarak at home, and the AFC qualification battle is about to begin!

In the green field under the high temperature, a qualifying match between the AFC Champions League, which is only 1 point away, will be staged at the Kobe Prince Park Stadium.

18:00, Kobe Municipal Prince Park Stadium, temperature is 31℃. The 19th round of the Japanese vocational league is about to begin, and the home team Kobe Victory Ship and the visiting team Hiroshima Three Arrows meet on a narrow road.

The two teams are currently ranked 4th and 5th in the standings, with only one point difference making this showdown a veritable "sixtile battle". Kobe has 11 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses and 37 points, Hiroshima has 11 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses and 36 points, the winner will take the lead in the AFC qualification competition.

The delicate balance of historical confrontations has been formed - Hiroshima has slightly superior in 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the last 10 matches, but Kobe has won both home games against Hiroshima.

01 Basic information of the game

At 18:00 on July 2, 2025, Kobe Municipal Prince Park Stadium will witness this key battle of the Japanese League. The two teams have only 1 point difference in points, ranking 4th and 5th in the league. The result of this game will directly affect the competition for the qualification of the AFC Champions League.

Weather conditions have become an important factor. The high temperature of 31℃ accompanied by high humidity may affect the ground coordination efficiency of the Kobe Victory Ship, which is well known for its technological flow.

Judging from the historical confrontation data, the two sides have shown a balance of power in the last 10 confrontations: Kobe has won 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses, and the advantage of 3 wins and 1 draw at home is obvious. In this season's Super Cup, Hiroshima scored Kobe 2-0, adding psychological weight to this showdown.

02 Kobe Victory Ship: Home Fortress suffered an injury crisis

Kobe's home performance this season is terrifying, with 5 wins and 1 loss in the last 6 home games, with a winning rate of up to 83%. The team relies on the hot state of forward Miyamiya Dasheng - the 25-year-old scorer has scored 3 goals in the last three games, and has contributed 9 goals in 17 appearances this season, becoming the sharpest spear on the team's forward line.

The wing core Eric is also key. He and Dasheng Miyagi have joined forces to contribute stunning data of 12 goals and 8 assists. Through quick passes and breakthroughs on the wing, the two built Kobe's most threatening offensive combination. In terms of

formation, head coach Takayuki Yoshida insists on the 3-4-2-1 system, emphasizing breakthroughs on the wing and short pass penetration in the midfield. However, injuries and clouds cover the team: the midfield core Kento Hamasaki (dislocation of acromioclavicular joint), the main striker Yoshiki Muto (lumbar spine injury), and Tonyo Nagaki (metatarsal fracture) all need to recuperate until August.

Central defender Tule is close to suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. If he is yellow again in this game, he will miss the next round, further weakening the depth of the defense line.

03 Hiroshima Sanarak: The away dragon's counterattack blade

Hiroshima Sanarak has fought in the attitude of "away dragon". He has won 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in his last 6 away games, conceded only 2 goals, and his defense is as solid as a rock. The team swept Yokohama FC 4-0, showing strong away game capabilities.

coach Skibe has a flexible and varied system, switching between 4-3-3 and 3-4-2-1 formations, and paying more attention to defensive counterattack efficiency. New aid German (former Australian Super League forward) and Naoto Akai (3 games 2 goals and 1 assist). The two have contributed 5 goals and 3 assists in the last 5 games, and are good at using the opponent to press the gap in the ribs behind.

defensive end, Hiroshima conceded only 17 goals in 21 J1 league games this season, with a league best defensive record. Goalkeeper Keisuke Oma is expected to score for the eighth clean sheet this game. The defense line led by central defender Hayato Araki averaged 3 interceptions per game, and his personal clearance success rate was as high as 82%. In terms of injury, Hiroshima only midfielder Arslan (knee surgery) is absent for a long time, and the lineup integrity is significantly better than Kobe. 19-year-old young player Yotaro Nakajima has performed well recently and may become the surprise player in this game.

04 Pre-match prediction and data analysis

Hiroshima remained unbeaten (2 wins and 2 draws) against the top four teams away this season, while Kobe's home win rate against the top five teams was only 40%, which adds confidence to the away team.

Score prediction: Most professional analysis points to a draw, with the probability of a 1-1 score being as high as 13%, and the probability of a 2-1 victory of Kobe 1 is 11%. If Hiroshima uses counterattack efficiency, he may also win 1-2 away.

Historical data reveals the mystery: Kobe's home win rate against the top five teams is only 40%, while Hiroshima remains unbeaten against the top four teams 2 wins and 2 draws away. This duel under high temperature tests not only technology, but also the ultimate competition between will and endurance. The whistle is about to sound. Where will the balance of the AFC qualification competition tend to be? Welcome to leave a message to share your views!