- In the last five J League head-to-head meetings, Vissel Kobe have won four and drawn one, while Shonan Bellmare are winless.
- Vissel Kobe are unbeaten in their last five league games (Won 4, drawn 1), while Shonan Bellmare have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five.
- Vissel Kobe have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 3 of their 10 home games in J League 2025, Shonan Bellmare have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 5 of their 10 away games in J League 2025.
Kobe can’t be caught out
With Kobe asserting themselves as top contenders and Shonan Bellmare fighting to avoid relegation, this game has added intrigue, even though there is no great rivalry between the clubs.
The bookmakers have certainly reacted to the table positions, making Vissel Kobe strong -256 favourites and the visitors a long +775 underdogs for Saturday’s game. Our Vissel Kobe vs Shonan Bellmare prediction takes into account these odds, reflecting the contrasting form and morale of the two sides.
But the home side’s form, their head-to-head dominance over Shonan and the fact that they have won their last two home league fixtures, suggests they should be winning in front of their own fans. In terms of Vissel Kobe vs Shonan Bellmare odds, this makes a Kobe win especially attractive for punters seeking value.
Patience and possession can prevail
Vissel Kobe are a very solid fourth in the J League 2025 standings with 37 points from 21 games while Shonan Bellmare are deep in the relegation zone in 17th place with 23. This Vissel Kobe vs Shonan Bellmare preview looks specifically at how Kobe’s consistent results give them an edge heading into this fixture.
Takayuki Yoshida has been in charge of Vissel Kobe since June 2022 and has brought a sense of structure, patience and organisation to the club’s play.
Vissel Kobe play a disciplined 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, favoring methodical buildup, technical combinations, and controlled pressing.
The evidence of recent games suggests they have become a team that cannot be overrun and are very capable of grinding out results when the going gets tough. In our next Vissel Kobe vs Shonan Bellmare prediction, we emphasize Kobe's resilience as a key factor.
That was certainly the case in their most recent two league matches when they beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 away and then held Avispa Fukuoka to a 0-0 draw at home.
Shonan’s speed can unsettle opponents
Satoshi Yamaguchi has been in charge of Shonan Bellmare since September 2021 and his team plays a high-tempo, transition-heavy style of soccer.
A back-three system gives them plenty of support in possession, but their players are fast and powerful in transition with wingers and full-backs able to get forward to stretch opponents.
Naoki Yamada injects creativity and experience at the heart of their midfield, often the spark to ignite their counters, while Sho Fukuda is their most accomplished striker and top scorer this season with 4 in 17 J League appearances.
Kazunari Ono is the experienced anchor of their defense, but has his work cut out this weekend given Shonan have conceded 15 goals in 10 J League away matches this campaign. That defensive record is a focus in our next Vissel Kobe vs Shonan Bellmare prediction, suggesting they may struggle to cope with Kobe's organized attack.
