JC - Football - Japan - J League Cup

J-League Cup round 2 game at EDION Stadium between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Nagoya Grampus Eight. Both teams remain unbeaten. Yet with slight different fortunes. Regarding the J-League Cup in round 1, Sanfrecce Hiroshima had an away victory meanwhile Nagoya Grampus Eight had an scoreless tie against Shimizu S-Pulse.

It has been a bittersweet early start for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the victory in J-League Cup is accompanied by two ties in J1 League, against "direct" rivals as Sagan Tosu and Consadole Sapporo. After their 2nd place in 2018, Sanfrecce Hiroshima position has been diminishing, 6th in 2019, 8th in 2020 and 11th in 2021. Despite an stable scoring production of 45 goals those years, their defense has been allowing more goals each time, therefore opening with 1 goal allowed in three games could point towards a better situation this year around.

Nagoya Grampus Eight in contrast has improved from 15th in 2018 and 13th in 2019, to finishing in the top five, 3rd in 2020 and 5th in 2021. The main aspect here from being one of the worst defense, to ending as the best one in 2020 and second best in 2021. And the start of the season has been in that accord with that, three consecutive clean sheets. Two scoreless ties and home victory against Vissel Kobe.

Normally an intense encounter between them at EDION Stadium, three victories for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, one tie and one win for Nagoya Grampus Eight. The goals scored in those games have been reducing as both teams focus on defense, therefore a tight game is expected. As Sanfrecce Hiroshima open the group stage with a victory it provides with a small cushion, together with a favorable precedent against them here should see them continue to get points.

02/03/2022 08:14, read 1068 times