Sanfrecce Hiroshima: 2020 team analysis – scout report

With the 2020 J1 League season being just one game old when the fixtures were postponed, Sanfrecce Hiroshima have remained the leaders of the pack on goal difference. After a 3-0 victory over Kashima Antlers in their opening game, Sanfrecce will remain top at least until play resumes.

In that victory, Hiroshi Jofuku’s side boasted fewer possession (33% to 67%), far fewer passes completed (299 to 606), a much lower passing accuracy percentage (69% to 84%) and had fewer shots (12 to 17), although more on target (six to three), when compared to their opponent, yet were still 3-0 victors.

The home side’s structure of 3-4-2-1 from last season remained the same, however, the front three were the only players to be replaced from the final game of the 2019 season against Yokohama F. Marinos to the first game of the 2020 season, all of which bagged in the 3-0 victory.

Jofuku’s side appeared to be incredibly well-versed and efficient in how they played, with every tactic an intricate detail which resulted in a spotless scoreline for Sanfre. So, with play still suspended and the Hiroshima side sitting top of the table, they are as interesting a side as any to analyse.

So this tactical analysis will dissect the key tactics of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The scout report will also use analysis to show why those tactics will make Jofuku’s side a threat over the 2020 J1 League season.

The press of Sanfrecce’s front three

As previously stated, the front three which started the game against Kashima Antlers were the only positions to have new faces in the starting lineup from the 3-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos on the final day of the 2019 season. Douglas Vieira and Tsukasa Morishima were instated to the lineup having already been at the club, and loan signing Leandro Pereira, who joined from relegated Matsumoto Yamaga in the offseason, started as the front trio. The press of these three was vital to how Sanfrecce played.

In this annotation, the pressing structure of that front three can be seen. The centre-most point of the three – usually Pereira – would be slightly advanced of the two wingers and the three would keep themselves fairly wide. This would allow the two base points of the triangle to cover passing lanes and be in position to press the ball should it be played to a man near to them – as the purple arrows show. As can be seen in the annotation, the press would be initiated as high up the pitch as possible if there was a real chance of regaining possession.

In this image, the build-up to Sanfre’s opening goal against Kashima Antlers can be seen. Following a throwing for the away side, play has resumed quicker than expected and the front three are out of position, with Vieira at the centre-most point. However, the three know the roles of one another perfectly and acclimatise to the situation.