Hiroshima vs Nagoya Grampus 26/07/20

26 July 2020

Out-of-sorts Hiroshima welcome in-form Nagoya Grampus to the Edion Stadium Hiroshima for a potentially low-scoring Japan J1 League affair. Indeed, three of their last four top-flight H2Hs have featured under 2.5 goals.

The hosts have lost three of their last four league matches (D1) – all of which via a single-goal margin – and now they take on a side they’ve failed to win against in each of their previous four top-flight H2Hs (D2, L2). Hiroshima’s combative approach has seen five of their past six J1 League home matches (last season included) end separating the sides by under 1.5 goals (W2, D2, L2), with eight the 12 goals scored/conceded across those fixtures arriving after the break (66.67%). Interestingly, all three of Hiroshima’s league home games this season produced goals in both halves, which hasn’t been the case in any of their last five competitive H2Hs held at this venue.

Meanwhile, the visitors got off to a flying start to the new league campaign, picking up four victories from the opening six J1 League fixtures (D2). Notably, three of those wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet and witnessed Nagoya get on the scoresheet beyond the hour mark. Also, the ‘Grampus’ have won all three of their top-flight trips this term, scoring at least one goal inside the final 15 minutes of the first half on each of those occasions. But, it will be a daunting prospect for Nagoya to maintain a 100% away start, as they’ve won only once in their last seven league trips to Hiroshima (D3, L3).