Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Kashima Antlers 25/06/19

25 June 2019

Sanfrecce Hiroshima will try to overcome a one-goal deficit from the first leg when they take on Kashima Antlers at the Edion Stadium Hiroshima for the return leg of their AFC Champions League last-16 tie.

Notably, the hosts have not played out a draw in 19 consecutive matches across all competitions (W12, L7), with Hiroshima’s last stalemate in a competitive game dating back to March 2019. However, they have not enjoyed the best of times playing at home lately, as they’ve suffered three defeats in their last five home outings (W2, L3), with four of those clashes ending with the identical 1-0 scoreline (W1, L3). Also, the Edion Stadium Hiroshima has not been a venue of entertainment over the past four months, as seven of Sanfrecce’s previous eight games here featured under 2.5 goals, with none of them seeing both teams score.

Meanwhile, the visitors travel here on a three-game unbeaten run (W2, D1), with all of those matches producing under 2.5 goals. Just like their rivals, the Antlers have struggled to entertain their fans recently, as six of their previous eight games across all competitions featured under 2.5 goals, while just one witnessed goals at both ends. What’s more, Kashima’s dreadful run of form when away from home has seen them sustain four defeats on their last six road trips across all competitions (W1, D1, L4), with three of those matches ending with the same 1-0 scoreline (W1, L2). Still, an encouraging fact for Go Oiwa is that Kashima picked up four wins on their last five visits here (W4, L1), with four of those clashes producing over 2.5 goals.