Mito's new five at the back changes the first phase of this game. Hiroshima's width will test what happens after that line makes its first clearance. The next ball at the far post or from a restart looks central to how the game opens up.
Mori's first Mito match showed a compact box and a quick Yamazaki-to-Patryck break, but Cerezo regained the lead soon after Mito levelled, then found another cross and rebound. Hiroshima have several ways to repeat that pressure: Suga and Higashi can supply the left, Arai and Nakano can recycle from the other side, and their cup comeback also showed a separate route through restarts.
Mito's Watanabe, Torikai and Uchino were still missing from the cup squad after dated injury reports, narrowing the receiving and finishing options behind Patryck. Hiroshima's wide core carried a heavy cup load, while Mito also used Patryck from the start. The first Mito block can hold for a spell, but Hiroshima's second delivery can draw that line across again and put another receiver at the far post. That's why I'm siding with Sanfrecce Hiroshima to turn repeated box contact into a clear away win.
