Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Shimizu S-pulse Prediction & Betting Tips

Form check: Hiroshima flying, Shimizu stuttering

Hiroshima's last 20 matches across all competitions show 11 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses, with 37 scored and 24 conceded. That's a strong overall return, though the sample mixes J1 League games with cup ties and friendlies, so it's not a pure league read.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima: 20 completed matches; Shimizu S-pulse: 20 completed matches.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

20 matches

Win

55% 11 / 20

Draw

15% 3 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

37

Conceded

24

Difference

+13

Shimizu S-pulse

20 matches

Win

30% 6 / 20

Draw

40% 8 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

26

Conceded

26

Difference

0

Shimizu's equivalent run is far more even and far less productive: 6 wins, 8 draws and 6 losses from 20, with goals for and against level at 26 apiece. Plenty of draws suggests a team that competes but rarely finds a way to win consistently.

Hiroshima look the more reliable side on recent evidence, though friendlies in the mix mean this isn't a clean league-only comparison.

Comparative Team Statistics: Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Shimizu S-pulse

Head-to-head: recent meetings closer than the table suggests

The two sides met twice already in 2026. Hiroshima drew 1-1 at home in April, then lost 3-1 when they travelled to Shimizu in March. That's a reminder these two can be tight affairs even when one side looks stronger on paper.

Going further back, the history is long and spans several seasons and competitions, including cup matches. Hiroshima have won more of those older meetings, but that history isn't a reliable guide to current form given how much time has passed.

Where they sit

In this table snapshot, Hiroshima are third with 17 points from eight games, while Shimizu sit twelfth on 10 points from the same number of matches. The gap in goal difference is striking too: Hiroshima have scored 20 and conceded just 6, against Shimizu's 6 for and 8 against.

This is only a partial table showing these two teams, so it doesn't tell us who's bottom or how tight the wider division is. Still, the points and goal difference gap between these two sides specifically is clear enough.

Players to watch

A. Suzuki has been Hiroshima's main threat with 6 goals in 8 matches, and he's also chipping in assists. Kato and Higashi add further creative output, so the attacking threat isn't one-dimensional.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima:

Best scorers:

A. Suzuki - 6

S. Haller - 3

Best assist providers:

M. Kato - 3

A. Suzuki - 2

S. Higashi - 2

Penalty cards:

A. Suzuki x 2

Shimizu S-pulse:

Penalty cards:

Oh Se-Hun x 1 x 2

J. Sumiyoshi x 1

T. Fujii x 2

On the Shimizu side, the data we have is mostly about discipline rather than attack: Oh Se-Hun and Fujii have both picked up two yellow cards, and Sumiyoshi has already seen red in just four matches. That doesn't confirm anyone will be missing for this specific fixture, and with kickoff still around a month away from this snapshot, team news naturally remains provisional.

How it could play out

Hiroshima's home form and table position point to them controlling large parts of this game, especially with Suzuki firing regularly. Shimizu's away record shows they can be stubborn, though, drawing plenty of matches rather than collapsing.

The most recent head-to-head meetings back that up: both games were close, including a Shimizu win on the road earlier this year. A cagey, competitive match feels more likely than a routine home banker.