J1 League Regular Season - 18
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4 - 2 FT Nagoya Grampus
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
33' S. Nakamura (H. Kawabe)
42' H. Kawabe
Y. Yamagishi (T. Takamine) 45'+2
45'+4 H. Kawabe (S. Nakano)
HT
46' S. Nakano (S. Higashi)
55' ↓ T. Shiotani ↑T. Matsumoto
55' ↓ M. Kato ↑R. Germain
56' A. Suzuki (S. Higashi)
↓ R. Izumi ↑H. Koda 59'
↓ T. Uchida ↑T. Morishima 59'
T. Morishima 67'
74' ↓ A. Suzuki ↑K. Kinoshita
81' ↓ H. Kawabe ↑Y. Chajima
81' ↓ S. Nakamura ↑N. Maeda
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Issei Ouchi 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Shiotani Tsukasa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
55
Total Mins
55
Entry
Yamasaki Taichi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sasaki Sho 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Shuto Nakano 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
8.2
Rating
Kawabe Hayao 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Arai Naoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Higashi Shunki 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
2
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Kato Mutsuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
55
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sota Nakamura
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Akito Suzuki
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Yudai Tanaka 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Shichi Takaaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taishi Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chajima Yusuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yotaro Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motoki Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryo Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kinoshita Kosuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maeda Naoki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nagoya Grampus
Goalkeepers
Daniel Schmidt 
MAGNET
51
Activity
51
Activity
51
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
Yuki Nogami
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruya Fujii 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Shuhei Tokumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yuya Asano
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Takuya Uchida
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Tomoki Takamine
ARCHITECT
6
Key Passes
6
Key Passes
1
Assists
77%
Pass Acc
Katsuhiro Nakayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Ryuji Izumi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Yudai Kimura
MAGNET
42
Activity
42
Activity
27
Passes
15
Duels
Yuya Yamagishi
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
7
Rating
BENCH
Alexandre Pisano
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yota Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kennedy Egbus Mikuni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tsukasa Morishima 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
36
Minutes
7.9
Rating
Hidemasa Koda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masahito Ono
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taichi Kikuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shungo Sugiura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kensuke Nagai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/18/2026 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 08/27/2025 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 4 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Emperor Cup | Toyota Stadium |
| 06/28/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | Hiroshima Big Arch |
| 04/20/2025 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 09/08/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 (AET) | Nagoya Grampus | J-League Cup | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/04/2024 | Nagoya Grampus | 0 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Toyota Stadium |
| 08/17/2024 | Nagoya Grampus | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 05/06/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 3 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/30/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 06/18/2023 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Toyota Stadium |
03/18/2026
08/27/2025
06/28/2025
04/20/2025
09/08/2024
09/04/2024
08/17/2024
05/06/2024
09/30/2023
06/18/2023
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Nagoya Grampus Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +6
P: 18 GD: +3
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 17 GD: 0
P: 17 GD: +3
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 17 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -10
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vissel Kobe | 18 | 35 | 29 | 25 | +4 | |
| 2 | Nagoya Grampus | 18 | 31 | 33 | 31 | +2 | |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 18 | 30 | 31 | 23 | +8 | |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 17 | 28 | 27 | 19 | +8 | |
| 5 | Fagiano Okayama | 17 | 26 | 24 | 26 | -2 | |
| 6 | Gamba Osaka | 17 | 25 | 29 | 24 | +5 | |
| 7 | Shimizu S-pulse | 17 | 24 | 22 | 23 | -1 | |
| 8 | V-varen Nagasaki | 17 | 21 | 21 | 28 | -7 | |
| 9 | Avispa Fukuoka | 18 | 21 | 21 | 31 | -10 | |
| 10 | Kyoto Sanga | 17 | 20 | 21 | 28 | -7 |
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 17 GD: +8
P: 17 GD: -2
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 17 GD: -7
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Clinical Hiroshima Shatter Grampus in Crucial Top-Table Clash
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 89/100. In a massive title race six-pointer, the hosts proved that ruthless counter-attacking and sheer clinical edge will always trump sterile possession.
Early Tension at Edion Peace Wing
The stakes could not have been higher under the lights at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, and the extreme Stakes translated into a gripping tactical duel. Nagoya Grampus dominated possession early on, orchestrating the tempo and forcing the hosts deep into their own half. However, Sanfrecce Hiroshima remained disciplined, waiting for the perfect moment to transition. That patience paid off in the 33rd minute when Kawabe Hayao sliced through the away defence to set up S. Nakamura for the breakthrough. Despite seeing little of the ball, the home side landed the first critical blow.
A Frenzy Before the Break
As half-time approached, the match exploded into life, completely shattering the previous tactical Balance. Grampus found their equaliser right on the 45-minute mark through Y. Yamagishi, courtesy of a brilliant creative spark from Tomoki Takamine. But the visitors barely had time to celebrate before Kawabe restored the lead deep into stoppage time, finishing off a sequence involving Shuto Nakano. The sheer Intensity carried straight over into the second half. Almost immediately from the restart in the 46th minute, Nakano turned from provider to scorer, slotting home from a pinpoint S. Higashi assist.
Closing the Gap
Hiroshima continued their ruthless exhibition of finishing when A. Suzuki added a fourth in the 56th minute, effectively killing the contest. The Grampus manager responded by bringing on T. Morishima, who provided a 67th-minute consolation goal to give the travelling fans something to cheer about. Ultimately, generating four goals from just five shots on target represents a devastating efficiency that Nagoya simply could not match. With this victory, Hiroshima instantly reshape the upper echelons of the J1 League, closing the gap and proving their absolute legitimacy in the ongoing race for the championship.
Key Questions
What made Tomoki Takamine the Man of the Match?
Despite the defeat, Takamine controlled the midfield with six key passes and provided a crucial assist to Yamagishi, showcasing elite creative vision.
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
It was a perfect clash of styles: Nagoya's heavy possession left them vulnerable to Hiroshima's devastatingly clinical counter-attacks, resulting in four goals from five shots on target.
What does this mean for Sanfrecce Hiroshima's season?
This statement victory catapults them past Nagoya in the standings, firmly cementing their status as genuine title contenders in a tight championship race.
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.
Title Race Drama Looms in Hiroshima
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 74/100. A Nagoya win tightens their grip on the summit, but a Hiroshima victory blows the J1 League title race wide open.
The Setup
First place meets fifth. The Nagoya Grampus machine rolls into Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on May 23, 2026, sitting pretty at the top of the J1 League. But Sanfrecce Hiroshima are heavily favored by the oddsmakers here. The hosts trail by seven points—a win slashes that gap, while a loss practically ends their title dreams. The Stakes are absolutely massive. Nagoya boasts a ruthless streak, but their recent Form shows occasional vulnerabilities that Hiroshima can exploit. The Balance of power on paper leans toward a tight contest, setting the stage for a spectacular showdown.
Key Battle
We are closely watching Higashi Shunki up against Yuya Yamagishi. The Stars rating on both sides promises fireworks, but Yamagishi is the primary threat terrorizing defenses right now. Higashi Shunki must lock down his flank and cut off the supply line. If Hiroshima's defense blinks, Yamagishi will punish them without hesitation.
Our Prediction
Hiroshima takes it 2-1. Nagoya leads the league and will likely strike first, but the hosts have the tactical edge in front of their home crowd. Expect an early Nagoya goal before Hiroshima stages a fierce second-half comeback to rattle the title race.