J1 League Gameweek 1
Kyoto Sanga 1 - 1 PEN 1-4 Vissel Kobe
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 โข 19:00 UTC
โก Form
47
โ๏ธ Balance
95
๐ Stakes
0
โญ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
66
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Atalanta
3-1
Venezia
โก Intensity
86
โ๏ธ Balance
31
๐ Stakes
0
๐ฒ Upset
0
Atalanta strike early, Venezia stay sunk.
Futmetrix Verdict
59
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Al-Wasl FC
1-3
Al-Ahli Jeddah
โก Intensity
63
โ๏ธ Balance
54
๐ Stakes
12
๐ฒ Upset
0
Clinical Al-Ahli secure vital away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Y. Muto (Y. Osako) 37'
HT
โ Y. Osako โR. Komatsu 46'
53' Marco Tulio (Rafael Elias)
61' Joรฃo Pedro
70' โ M. Saito โT. Yonemoto
70' โ K. Sato โH. Sugai
70' โ T. Matsuda โT. Hiraoka
โ Y. Goke โJean Patric 79'
82' โ H. Arai โM. Okugawa
90'+1 โ Marco Tulio โT. Hirato
Takahiro Ogihara 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Gakuji Ota 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Shinnosuke Fukuda 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Hisashi Appiah Tawiah 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yoshinori Suzuki 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
54%
Duel Win %
Kyo Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Midfielders
Joรฃo Pedro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitsuki Saito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Temma Matsuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
Marco Tรบlio
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
Rafael Elias 
MAGNET
51
Activity
51
Activity
36
Passes
15
Duels
Haruki Arai
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
BENCH
Kentaro Kakoi 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hidehiro Sugai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrique Trevisan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Okugawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takuji Yonemoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiyo Hiraoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiki Hirato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fuchi Honda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Nagasawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vissel Kobe
Goalkeepers
Daiya Maekawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Gotoku Sakai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tetsushi Yamakawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matheus Thuler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Katsuya Nagato
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Yuta Goke 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Takahiro Ohgihara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yosuke Ideguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Yoshinori Muto 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
9
Rating
Yuya Osako 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7
Rating
Daiju Sasaki
MAGNET
52
Activity
52
Activity
35
Passes
17
Duels
BENCH
Shuichi Gonda
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joรฃo Victor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rikuto Hirose
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Boniface Nduka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takashi Inui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruya Ide
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuya Kuwasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean Patrick
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ren Komatsu
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/06/2026 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 1 (PEN 1-4) | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 12/06/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 0 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 02/26/2025 | Vissel Kobe | 1 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Noevir Stadium |
| 10/27/2024 | Vissel Kobe | 2 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | Emperor Cup | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
| 10/06/2024 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 3 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 04/27/2024 | Vissel Kobe | 0 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
| 09/03/2023 | Vissel Kobe | 2 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
| 04/01/2023 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 3 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 09/03/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 0 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 04/02/2022 | Vissel Kobe | 1 - 3 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
02/06/2026
12/06/2025
02/26/2025
10/27/2024
10/06/2024
04/27/2024
09/03/2023
04/01/2023
09/03/2022
04/02/2022
Kyoto Sanga Win
Vissel Kobe Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kyoto Sanga
Vissel Kobe
Kyoto Sanga
Vissel Kobe
Top-of-the-Table Clash Decided From the Spot
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 28/100. A tense summit meeting required a penalty shootout to separate the J1 League's finest, showcasing elite goalkeeping under immense pressure.
Early Breakthrough
The stakes were palpable as the J1 League's top two sides clashed at Sanga Stadium by Kyocera. A high Intensity rating reflected the frantic pace from the opening whistle, with both sides eager to establish dominance in this crucial top-of-the-table duel. Vissel Kobe absorbed early pressure, dealing with heavy midfield challenges before finding their attacking rhythm. The visitors struck first in the 37th minute when Y. Osako unlocked the defence with a precise pass, allowing Y. Muto to finish with clinical precision. Despite a barrage of attacking moves and mounting corner pressure from the home side, the league leaders managed to hold their slender advantage going into the break. Kobe's disciplined defensive shape set the stage for a deeply tactical and physically demanding second half.
The Kyoto Resurgence
After the restart, the Balance shifted drastically as Kyoto Sanga absolutely refused to surrender their unbeaten home momentum. They edged possession and pressed relentlessly for a deserved equaliser. Their tactical adjustments paid off in the 53rd minute when Rafael Elias perfectly teed up Marco Tulio, who smashed the ball home to level the scoreline. From there, the hosts unleashed a heavy volume of shots, testing the opposition time and time again as they searched for a winner. They turned the final third into a shooting gallery, attempting 16 shots overall. However, they found an impenetrable wall in Daiya Maekawa. The visiting goalkeeper produced a genuine masterclass between the sticks, pulling off six vital saves to keep the home side at bay and single-handedly force the ultimate tiebreaker.
Shootout Heroics
With the sides locked at 1-1 after a gruelling regulation period, this crunch match required a penalty shootout to settle the score. The tension inside the stadium was electric, yet Vissel Kobe showcased absolute composure from the penalty spot. Their shooters were flawless under pressure, but the real story was the immense psychological edge provided by their heroic goalkeeper. Cruising to a commanding 1-4 shootout victory, the visitors secured maximum points to extend their lead at the top of the table. Kyoto will deeply lament their missed opportunities during regulation, as their failure to convert dominance into goals proved costly. Nevertheless, they proved they truly belong in the title race alongside the league's heavyweights, leaving fans eager for the next chapter.
Key Questions
What made Daiya Maekawa the Man of the Match?
He anchored Vissel Kobe's defence with six crucial saves during regulation time before his commanding presence helped secure the decisive 1-4 penalty shootout victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Defining Moment in the J1 Title Race
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 7/100. First meets second in a monumental clash that will either reignite the championship race or see the leaders pull completely out of sight.
The Setup
On February 06, 2026, the J1 League title race arrives at a critical juncture. Vissel Kobe travel to Sanga Stadium by Kyocera boasting an eight-point cushion at the summit. Their staggering run of four wins in five outings yields a phenomenal Form rating. Yet, Kyoto Sanga sit directly behind them in second, knowing a victory on home soil is absolutely non-negotiable to keep their championship dreams alive. While baseline metrics suggest modest Stakes, our take is different: this is a genuine winner-takes-all scenario for the home side. Rafael Elias provides the attacking spark for Kyoto, backed by the midfield engine of M. Okugawa. Even with a humble Stars rating, these players can change the game. Kobe counters with a highly disciplined setup, marshaled by Matheus Thuler and T. Yamakawa at the back.
Key Battle
Expect a fascinating tactical struggle between Kyoto's high-pressing forward line and Kobe's robust defensive block. The visitors have conceded just 12 goals all season, building a rock-solid foundation. Kyoto must find a way to dismantle this structure without leaving themselves exposed to devastating counter-attacks. A high Balance rating suggests these units are incredibly evenly matched, making the midfield transition zones the ultimate deciding factor.
Our Prediction
Kobe's sheer defensive solidity gives them the edge. Kyoto will throw everything forward in search of a lifeline, but the visitors are perfectly equipped to absorb the pressure and strike on the break. We expect a narrow 1-0 victory for the league leaders, effectively ending the title debate.