AFC Champions League Elite Gameweek 6, East
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 0 FT Shanghai Shenhua
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Shinichi Chan 17'
HT
Ibrahim Amadou 51'
55' ↓ T. Arslan ↑K. Kinoshita
58' Ryo Germain
↓ Gao Tianyi ↑Yang Haoyu 62'
64' ↓ D. Suga ↑M. Kato
Xi Wu 68'
↓ I. Amadou ↑Wang Haijian 71'
76' ↓ R. Germain ↑V. Germain
↓ Saulo Mineiro ↑L. Asue 76'
78' H. Araki (N. Arai)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Keisuke Osako 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tsukasa Shiotani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Araki 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Sho Sasaki 
MAGNET
79
Activity
79
Activity
72
Passes
7
Duels
Midfielders
Naoto Arai 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
46%
Pass Acc
Satoshi Tanaka
MAGNET
79
Activity
79
Activity
68
Passes
11
Duels
Tolgay Arslan 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Daiki Suga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Forwards
Sota Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayao Kawabe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryo Germain
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
BENCH
Yudai Tanaka 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Cailen Hill
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kim Ju-sung
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcos Júnior
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yusuke Chajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosuke Kinoshita
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Aren Inoue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Naoki Maeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimon Kobayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Moki Sota
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mutsuki Kato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Valère Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shanghai Shenhua
Goalkeepers
Bao Yaxiong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Wilson Manafá
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jiang Shenglong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zhu Chenjie
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinichi Chan 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Midfielders
Gao Tianyi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Ibrahim Amadou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Wu Xi
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
23%
Pass Acc
João Teixeira 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Forwards
André Luís
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Saulo
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
BENCH
Zhou Zhengkai
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Wang Shilong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jin Shunkai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Zexiang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eddy Francis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Xu Haoyang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dai Weijun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Xie Pengfei
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wang Haijian
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Haoyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luís Asué
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liu Chengyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +5
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 6 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -4
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Shanghai Shenhua
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Shanghai Shenhua
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Hiroshima Siege Breaks Shenhua Resistance
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 15/100. Sanfrecce Hiroshima tightens their grip on a top-three spot while leaving a wasteful Shanghai Shenhua reeling in the lower half of the table.
Pressure at the Peace Wing
The atmosphere at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima was one of persistent expectation as Sanfrecce Hiroshima sought to assert their authority on the AFC Champions League. From the opening exchanges, the hosts dominated possession with a commanding 63%, forcing Shanghai Shenhua into a deep defensive shell. An Intensity rating of 2.3 reflected a game of high volume rather than clinical precision, as the Japanese side recorded 19 total shots. Despite the territorial dominance and 435 passes in the opposition half, the breakthrough remained elusive in a first half defined by the hosts' ability to find space but their inability to test the goalkeeper consistently. The Balance of the match was heavily skewed toward the Hiroshima frontline, yet the visitors managed to survive the initial wave of attacks through desperate blocks and organized discipline.
The Set-Piece Siege
The narrative of the match shifted as the Stakes rose in the second period, with Sanfrecce increasing their urgency. A barrage of 10 corners across the match turned the Shanghai box into a permanent construction site, as the visitors struggled to clear their lines effectively. While the Upset factor remained at 0.0, the tension grew as chance after chance went begging for the hosts. The pivot came through sheer persistence; after 32 combined shots across both sides, the deadlock was finally broken by a moment of collective brilliance from the Sanfrecce attack. This goal was a just reward for a side that created three big chances and maintained a constant presence in the final third. Shanghai Shenhua, having spent most of the match with only 37% of the ball, found themselves unable to transition from their defensive shape into a meaningful offensive threat.
Tactical Control and Aftermath
In the final stages, Sanfrecce Hiroshima demonstrated professional game management to see out the result. By completing 81% of their 525 passes, they starved Shanghai Shenhua of any opportunity to mount a late comeback. For the visitors, a fifth loss in seven matches highlights a concerning lack of defensive transition, as they were forced into 52 clearances just to keep the scoreline respectable. The win propels Sanfrecce to 14 points, keeping them firmly in the title hunt and maintaining their impressive defensive record. Conversely, the Chinese side remains mired in 11th position with a goal difference of -6, facing an uphill battle to keep their continental campaign alive. The clinical edge may have been missing for large periods, but the statistical dominance ensured the right result was found under the lights in Hiroshima.
Key Questions
How dominant were Sanfrecce Hiroshima in this match?
Sanfrecce dominated possession with 63% and recorded 19 shots, reflecting total control over the tempo and territory at the Edion Peace Wing.
What were the main tactical factors for Shanghai Shenhua's loss?
Shenhua struggled with ball retention (37% possession) and were forced into 52 clearances under constant corner and shot pressure from the hosts.
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.
Hiroshima's Fortress Faces Shenhua's Final Stand
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. This clash serves as a definitive survival test for Shanghai Shenhua, who must overcome a dismal continental run to remain in contention for the top-24 playoff line.
The Setup
As the AFC Champions League enters a critical phase, Sanfrecce Hiroshima find themselves in a commanding position. Sitting 3rd in the table with 14 points, the Japanese side has balanced domestic focus with continental efficiency. In contrast, Shanghai Shenhua arrive at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on December 10, 2025, haunted by a Form rating of 4.8 that reflects four consecutive losses. While the Stakes are high at 7.0, the overall Balance of 3.0 suggests a significant gulf in quality between the two camps. Sanfrecce’s defensive record—conceding only four goals in seven games—will be the primary obstacle for a Shenhua side that has struggled for consistency.
Key Battle
The match will be decided by the tactical discipline of Hiroshima’s engine room against Shanghai’s desperate directness. H. Kawabe provides the creative spark and tempo for the hosts, tasking the Shenhua midfield with a defensive workload they have frequently failed to manage this season. For the visitors, the physical presence of Rafael Ratão represents their best hope of disrupting the rhythm of H. Araki and the Sanfrecce backline. If Shenhua cannot isolate the Japanese defenders early, they risk being suffocated by Hiroshima’s superior possession play.
Our Prediction
Sanfrecce Hiroshima are likely to dictate the tempo from the opening whistle. Despite a low Stars score of 1.8 suggesting a lack of individual magic, Hiroshima’s collective structure is their greatest asset. Expect a professional performance where the hosts exploit Shenhua’s fragile confidence with two well-timed goals, effectively ending the visitors' hopes of a late surge up the table. A 2-0 victory for the home side feels inevitable given the current trajectories.