Hiroshima Sanfrecce: Prioritizing the League over the AFC Champions League, Foreign Players Not in Starting Lineup

Written by Han Bing Hiroshima Sanfrecce won away against Melbourne City in the last AFC Champions League Elite League match, showing decent fighting strength. Yet, their past AFC Champions League performances were unsatisfactory, with four group stage eliminations out of five participations and a best finish of only the round of 16. On the Asian stage, they previously competed against Beijing Guoan, Shandong Luneng, and Guangzhou Evergrande, but have not faced Shanghai Port until now. In 10 prior matches against Chinese teams, Hiroshima Sanfrecce recorded 2 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses, placing them at a disadvantage.

Although the J-League no longer limits the number of foreign players registered, Hiroshima Sanfrecce did not recruit many to build a strong squad. Instead, they released four foreign forwards at once earlier this year. Additionally, 39-year-old veteran Toshihiro Aoyama retired, and defensive midfielder Taishi Matsumoto was transferred to Urawa Red Diamonds. New signings include 35-year-old French forward Hermann, Japanese-American hybrid forward Ryan Jermain, along with defensive midfielder Satoshi Tanaka, left winger Sugai Daiki, and Naoki Maeda among others.

Currently, Hiroshima Sanfrecce has five foreign players and two mixed-heritage players on their roster. Among them, South Korean international center-back Kim Ju-sung joined from Seoul FC during the summer transfer window.
In the 32nd round of the J-League, Hiroshima Sanfrecce defeated Fukuoka Hawks away, accumulating 55 points, which is 9 points behind league leaders Kashima Antlers. Their chances for the championship are basically gone, but they still have the opportunity to finish in the top three and secure a spot in next season’s two AFC Champions League competitions. After 32 rounds, they have scored 37 goals, ranking 11th in the league offensively. Their relatively high league position relies more on solid defense, conceding only 22 goals — the fewest in the J-League, six fewer than the top-ranked Kashima Antlers.

None of Hiroshima Sanfrecce’s five foreign players have been regular starters this season. French forward Hermann, who joined at the beginning of the year, was suspended for three games and missed the first two rounds of the new AFC Champions League Elite League after the team forfeited 0-3 due to his ineligible appearance in March. However, his absence had little impact on the team’s strength. The team is coached by the renowned German manager Takeshi Skibbe, who led them to second place in the J-League last season — their best league finish in six years. Skibbe favors a 3-4-2-1 formation, typically starting with only one or two foreign players, relying mostly on Japanese players.

The team frequently rotates heavily between league and AFC Champions League matches, but defensive lineups remain stable. In their opening AFC Champions League Elite League match, they beat Melbourne City 2-0. Japanese international goalkeeper Keisuke Osako guarded the goal, with veterans Sho Sasaki, East Asian Cup participant Hayato Araki, and South Korean foreign player Kim Ju-sung forming the back three. Wingers Toshiaki Higashi and Nakano Kaito operated on the flanks, handling both offense and defense. Defensive midfield was anchored by Satoshi Tanaka, another East Asian Cup participant, while the four attacking positions, especially the front three, often rotated.

In the September 27 match where Hiroshima Sanfrecce won 2-1 away against Fukuoka Hawks, only four starters remained unchanged compared to the previous AFC Champions League game against Melbourne City: Satoshi Tanaka, Sho Sasaki, Kim Ju-sung, and goalkeeper Keisuke Osako. Rarely starting French striker Hermann scored in the 17th minute, and Tanaka sealed the victory in the 86th minute. However, left wing-back Sugai Daiki was forced off due to injury, which was a setback for the team. It is expected that coach Skibbe will mostly stick to the main lineup from the Melbourne City match, with 1.90m tall striker Kosuke Kinoshita leading the attack, 19-year-old youngster Yotaro Nakajima and Brazilian winger Max on the flanks, and Kawabe Shun partnering Tanaka in midfield. In the second half, Turkish-German attacking midfielder Aslan, along with regular league starters Naoki Maeda and Rikuji Kato, may come on to boost the offense.

Compared to other Japanese teams, Hiroshima Sanfrecce has traditionally not prioritized the AFC Champions League. Their main focus remains on the league and domestic cups. Although their defense is relatively solid, their attacking power in midfield and forward areas is lacking. If Shanghai Port plays at full strength, it is not impossible for them to take at least a point away.