Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima Prediction 20.07.2025
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Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima Prediction
Albirex Niigata vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima Prediction and Betting Tips for Matchday 24 of the J1 League, scheduled for Sunday, July 21. The match kicks off at Denka Big Swan Stadium, with Albirex struggling to escape relegation and Sanfrecce aiming to keep their continental qualification hopes alive. In this article, you’ll find expert J1 League Predictions from XpertStats’ tipsters.
- Albirex Niigata have the worst defensive record in the league with 39 goals conceded.
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima boast the J1 League’s best defense, conceding just 18 goals.
- The visitors sit fifth in the table, while Albi are second from bottom.
- Albirex have lost back-to-back matches, including a cup upset to an amateur side.
Albirex Niigata’s season continues to spiral downward as they enter this fixture with just 19 points from 23 matches, sitting second-from-bottom. The team’s defensive vulnerabilities have been glaring, conceding an average of 1.73 goals per match—the highest in the league. Their most recent league outing ended in a 2-1 loss to Kyoto Sanga, and they followed it up with a humiliating Emperor’s Cup defeat to Tokyo University. Despite scoring 1.27 goals per match, their inability to keep teams out has undermined any attacking promise.
Statistically, Albirex matches have been high-scoring affairs, averaging 3 goals per game. They’ve gone over 2.5 goals in 64% of their fixtures and both teams have scored in 64% of those. However, their record against Hiroshima doesn’t offer much optimism either. While unbeaten in the last six head-to-heads, their overall win rate in this fixture is just 21%, with only 8 wins from 38 meetings. Their lack of consistency and frailty at the back makes them vulnerable once again this weekend.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima, on the other hand, are coming into this clash with renewed confidence after a dramatic 1-0 win over Fagiano Okayama, thanks to a 97th-minute winner from Sota Nakamura. They currently sit fifth with 39 points from 23 matches and have been one of the most defensively organized sides in the league, conceding just 0.67 goals per game. Despite not scoring heavily—1.25 goals per match—their tactical discipline and strong defensive shape have seen them grind out crucial results.
Matches involving Hiroshima are typically tighter, averaging just 1.92 goals per game. Only 33% of their games have gone over 2.5 goals, and they’ve seen both teams score in just 33% of fixtures. While they haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last five against Niigata, their overall form and league-best defensive record make them strong favorites here. With Albirex faltering and confidence low, this looks like another opportunity for Hiroshima to consolidate their top-five place.
J1 League Predictions favor the visitors, who should have enough control and composure to secure all three points.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima are poised to secure three points on Sunday based on both form and statistical superiority. They have conceded just 18 goals across 23 games, the best defensive record in the J1 League. In contrast, Albirex Niigata have let in 39 goals—the worst in the division. Niigata’s morale is at a low point, having lost two games in a row, including a cup shock to an amateur team. Hiroshima's 1.25 goals per game might seem modest, but their consistency and tactical discipline enable them to edge games, as seen in their recent 1-0 win sealed in the 97th minute. Albirex’s chaotic defense and fragile mentality make them unlikely to cope with a well-structured side like Hiroshima. Despite a poor recent H2H record, Hiroshima’s league performances suggest they're ready to reverse that trend. A win here would solidify their top-five position, and all indicators point to a professional away victory.
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