Vissel Kobe – CB Komoto is considered fit again after long term knee injury. MF Hashimoto is also expected to be available. FW Tashiro should still be considered doubtful. FW Okubo is not fully fit but expected to be asking to play!
Over the last decade Sanfrecce have won eight times to Vissel’s two wins, with four draws. Each team won their home fixture by a 1-0 scoreline in 2011.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (P11 W6 D1 L4 GD +8) went ahead with Aoyama’s wonder goal from over 60 yards last weekend but eventually went down 3-1 to Yokohama F.Marinos and will be looking to get back to winning ways in front of their own fans. Hisato Sato is in sparkling form and the team have taken well to new, and young coach Moriyasu’s systems – although not too distant from his predecessor’s ideas! Mikic has been a key man this season, feeding Sato from the right wing and Vissel’s left wide will have to be on their tows to stop this pipeline. Attacking left back Soma may have to concentrate on defending this weekend! Sanfreece lie in 3rd place, despite winning only two of their last five and will be hoping to stay in touch with the top spot.
Vissel Kobe (P11 W5 D0 L6 GD -5) have publicly targeted a top 4 spot this season and interim coach Adachi will want to add to the points total so that the new coach – almost certainly to be ex-Gamba boss Akira Nishino, according to reports – will be able to come in and keep up the approach for that big season! Youngsters like Ogawa, Morioka, Mihara and Okui will be perfect base players for Nishino to build a new team to last a decade at the top. Vissel fans will be hoping that is the case. With Lee in fine form at centre back, and Kitomoto leading the team from his side, there may be no room for the ready to return Komoto, but having players on the bench with that ability will be fine for Vissel! Expect Vissel to give their all for coach Adachi and EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!