REF’s picks

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are in outstanding form, winning four of their last five matches while consistently scoring goals. With Shimizu S-Pulse often vulnerable away from home, backing the hosts to clear the -1.25 handicap offers the best value as they look to assert their dominance at the Edion Peace Wing.

1. 1Sanfrecce possess superior offensive momentum, scoring 14 times in their last five fixtures.
2. 2Shimizu struggle to keep clean sheets against top-half opposition, which creates opportunities for the hosts to win by a margin.
3. 3Recent head-to-head history has been competitive, and a complacency trap remains possible if Hiroshima fails to start quickly.

REF's own opinion, not a guarantee — nothing here is financial or betting advice, and the call is always yours.