**Sanfrecce Hiroshima are rolling, and Tokyo Verdy are just trying to survive.** This is a mismatch on paper — the visitors are 4-0-1 over their last five while Verdy have won exactly zero games in that stretch. 🔥

The H2H record tells the whole story: Hiroshima have won 8 of the last 9 meetings. Verdy's sole resistance came in a draw, so even holding ground here would count as a moral victory. Meanwhile, Hiroshima just demolished Cerezo Osaka 6-1 at home and are clicking hard.

Key storylines:

- **Sanfrecce Hiroshima's attack** is on fire — 6 goals in one match shows they can't be slowed down easily, even at the Ajinomoto
- **Tokyo Verdy's slump** has seen them lose twice in five and draw three times; they need a spark before this gap widens
- **K. Yengi's absence** (thigh injury) doesn't seem to have dented Hiroshima's momentum one bit

Expected lineups:

- **Tokyo Verdy**: M. Vidotto, K. Suzuki, S. Mizoguchi, R. Inoue, K. Miyahara, R. Hirakawa, K. Morita
- **Sanfrecce Hiroshima**: I. Ouchi, H. Shunki, H. Araki, S. Sasaki, S. Nakano, T. Matsumoto, K. Hayao

Prediction:

**Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 Tokyo Verdy**

Hiroshima's form is too sharp and Verdy's defense too fragile — the visitors' edge here is crystal clear.