Last weekend, Sanfrecce Hiroshima played promotion rival Niigata Swan at their own stadium, only to suffer a 1-2 defeat, a result that surprisingly surprised me twice.
In my opinion, Sanfrecce Hiroshima's defense has holes in this match, especially when they are aggressive in attacking, they are often broken from behind by their opponents. The team's forwards have yet to score so far this season, with the only score coming from defender Shioji Shirotani against Niigata Swan. However, with the return of Morishima-ji, I think the team's attacking power is expected to improve, and his sense of positioning up front will be a key factor in the game.
On the other hand, Yokohama Marinos started the season with two consecutive wins, beating Urawa Red Diamonds 2-0 in their last league match with goals from Andersen Lubis and Enmafios. The Mariners seem to have adjusted to their best form, especially being solid on the defensive end and alert on offense. Andersen Lubis will organize the attack at the back, while Elba and Hirata Mizunuma excel at creating threats on the wings using the width of the pitch to create chances for Takuma Nishimura to receive the ball in the middle of the pitch.
Although Sanfrecce Hiroshima lost at home in their last league match, it won't change their game strategy. Considering that the home team won big on the road against Yokohama Marinos last season, I believe Sanfrecce Hiroshima will be on their guard in this match and strengthen their defense significantly.
