Perhaps a welcome break from league football as ThespaKusatsu Gunma & Sanfrecce Hiroshima face off to decide who makes it to next stage of the Emperor Cup. All the pre-match information is available here!
These teams have little in common geographically as Sanfrecce Hiroshima have to travel 800 kilometers to reach their opponents. The trip home will be especially long if the match ends in defeat.
It's no vacation for neither ThespaKusatsu Gunma nor Sanfrecce Hiroshima as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
ThespaKusatsu Gunma form and stats
ThespaKusatsu Gunma participated in Emperor Cup the last season, where they reached the 4th round.ThespaKusatsu Gunma's struggle is real here at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma with only 10 points collected from 13 J2-League games. The win-draw-lost numbers are ugly: 2-4-7.
ThespaKusatsu suffered a slightly shocking loss 0-2 against Machida Zelvia in their previous game, also a home game.
Prior to that, an away loss at Zweigen Kanazawa in the J2-League.The manager Ōtsuki will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Oita Trinita in only three days.
The goals haven't exactly been flowing for ThespaKusatsu Gunma here at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma in the league, with less than one goal per game on average (10 from 13 games). ThespaKusatsu Gunma's goalkeeper has had to pick the ball out of their own net 17 times. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima form and stats
Last season their Emperor Cup adventure ended in the 2nd round.As the visiting team in J-League matches, Sanfrecce Hiroshima have produced an overall stat of 2-4-3 so far.
Sanfrecce's last game ended in a draw, the home match versus Shonan Bellmare that finished 1-1. Nogami, who plays in defense, got the "man of the match" on his team with the rating 8.0. Nogami scored one goal, hit the woodwork once and won 7 of 9 duels.
It was a J-League defeat before that one as the away game against Yokohama F. Marinos wasn't a success with a 0-3 loss.The visitors will be packing their bags again in only four days as another away game awaits: The J-League trip to Kyoto Sanga.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima find the net regularly in their away games. 10 goals from 9 away fixtures in the league. 13 goals have been conceded by Sanfrecce Hiroshima in these games.
Head 2 Head
Data for the preceeding three meetings between these two teams are: zero wins for ThespaKusatsu Gunma, zero draws and three wins for Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Over 2,5 goals: one time; under 2,5 goals: two games.Top Goalscorers
  S. Hiramatsu 5 goals |  M. Mitsuta 5 goals | T. Morishima 5 goals |
ThespaKusatsu Gunma missing players
Sanfrecce Hiroshima missing players
| ThespaKusatsu Gunma | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 10 | 25 | ||
| 7 | 1 | Won | W | 4 | 14 | ||
| 3 | 3 | Drew | D | 3 | 5 | ||
| 15 | 7 | Lost | L | 3 | 6 | ||
| 23 | 9 | Scored | S | 14 | 44 | ||
| 34 | 17 | Conceded | C | 13 | 23 | ||
| 92% | 82% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 90% | 96% | ||
| 52% | 55% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 80% | 84% | ||
| 36% | 36% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 70% | 60% | ||
| 24% | 27% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 30% | 24% | ||
| 20% | 27% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 4% | ||
| 36% | 36% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 44% | ||
| 28% | 18% | Clean Sheets | C S | 30% | 44% | ||
| 44% | 64% | Failed to Score | F T | 30% | 16% | ||
| 5.2 | 3.9 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5 | 5.2 | ||
| 5.6 | 5.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.2 | 3.3 | ||
| 0.8 | 0.9 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 0.9 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 7.2 | 8.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 15.9 | 14.9 | ||
| 2.8 | 3.4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.9 | 5.6 | ||
| 32% | 24% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 24% | 31% | ||
| 9.6 | 8.8 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 10.2 | 8.2 | ||
| 3.5 | 3.3 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4.3 | 3.2 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Albirex Niigata | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 22 | 51 |
| 2 | Yokohama | 26 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 41 | 29 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 51 |
| 3 | Vegalta Sendai | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 48 |
| 4 | Fagiano Okayama | 25 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 40 |
| 5 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 40 |
| 6 | Machida Zelvia | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 35 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 7 | 39 |
| 7 | Roasso Kumamoto | 26 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 33 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 38 |
| 8 | Oita Trinita | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 31 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 37 |
| 9 | JEF United | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 25 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
| 10 | Tokyo Verdy | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 45 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 27 | 3 | 36 |
| 11 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 33 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 19 | -2 | 35 |
| 12 | Mito Hollyhock | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 33 | 31 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 34 |
| 13 | Montedio Yamagata | 25 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 33 |
| 14 | Tokushima Vortis | 26 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 33 |
| 15 | Ventforet Kofu | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -3 | 33 |
| 16 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 16 | -4 | 31 |
| 17 | Tochigi | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | -6 | 30 |
| 18 | Blaublitz Akita | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 35 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 21 | -13 | 28 |
| 19 | Grulla Morioka | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 42 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 25 | -20 | 27 |
| 20 | ThespaKusatsu Gunma | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 33 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 16 | -13 | 23 |
| 21 | Omiya Ardija | 26 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 42 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 19 | -16 | 23 |
| 22 | Ryukyu | 26 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 46 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 21 | -19 | 19 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 46 | 23 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 17 | 23 | 44 |
| 2 | Kashima Antlers | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 39 |
| 3 | Kawasaki Frontale | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 37 |
| 4 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 28 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 34 |
| 5 | Kashiwa Reysol | 21 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 33 |
| 6 | Cerezo Osaka | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 32 |
| 7 | Tokyo | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 20 | -3 | 29 |
| 8 | Sagan Tosu | 20 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 27 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 5 | 27 |
| 9 | Urawa Reds | 21 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 26 |
| 10 | Avispa Fukuoka | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | -1 | 26 |
| 11 | Nagoya Grampus | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | -6 | 25 |
| 12 | Kyoto Sanga | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -4 | 24 |
| 13 | Shonan Bellmare | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 9 | -6 | 24 |
| 14 | Consadole Sapporo | 21 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 19 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 27 | -17 | 24 |
| 15 | Gamba Osaka | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 | -8 | 21 |
| 16 | Vissel Kobe | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 17 | -7 | 20 |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 33 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 13 | -8 | 20 |
| 18 | Júbilo Iwata | 21 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 17 | -10 | 19 |
