Port FC vs Vissel Kobe Predictions
Port FC and Vissel Kobe meet at Thammasat Stadium on Wednesday in an AFC Champions League Elite contest.
Port FC have made a positive start to the Thai League 1 season, but Vissel Kobe have the form and the pedigree to pick up the points.
Vissel Kobe to win is my best bet, while I also have a stake on BTTS.
Recent Stats Point to Goals
- Port FC have seen BTTS & over 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 8 matches
- Vissel Kobe won their last 5 matches
- Vissel Kobe scored 2+ goals in 5 of their last 7 matches
- Vissel Kobe have seen BTTS & over 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 8 matches
First-Ever Meeting in Bangkok
Port FC and Vissel Kobe will meet for the first time on Wednesday.
Port FC Edge Past Warrior
Port FC begin their continental campaign after a 2-1 victory against Lamphun Warrior in Thai League 1 on Friday.
Goals from Issam Al Sabhi and Teerasak Poeiphimai secured a hard-fought win for Sarawut Treephan’s side.
Both teams made plenty of opportunities, with Port FC narrowly edging the final shot tally 19 to 18.
Port had failed to win two previous fixtures against Persebaya (2-1) and Persija (2-2) before Friday’s victory at PAT Stadium.
Over a longer period, Treephan’s side have lost just one of their last 18 domestic fixtures.
Wednesday’s hosts qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite for only the second time in their history after finishing runners-up in the Thai League last season.
Port were eliminated in the group stage in 2021.
Vissel Kobe Arrive in Excellent Form
Vissel Kobe travel to Thailand after a 2-1 victory against Kashima Antlers in the J.League on Friday.
Yuya Osako and Tetsushi Yamakawa were on the scoresheet as Michael Skibbe’s side secured a fifth successive win.
Both teams created plenty of opportunities in an open J1 League contest. Kashima registered more shots (12-9) and a higher xG (1.77-1.69), but Vissel’s quality in front of goal proved the difference at Noevir Stadium Kobe.
The in-form Japanese side have won six and lost only one of eight competitive fixtures this season. Kobe scored at least two goals in five of their last seven games, including a 2-0 win at Tokyo Verdy earlier this month.
Michael Skibbe’s men return to the AFC Elite after an impressive campaign last season. The Ushi won five of their eight league-phase fixtures before being eliminated in the semi-finals.
Port FC vs Vissel Kobe Team News
Port FC: (4-4-2) Michael Falkesgaard; Chinnawat Wongchai, Peerawat Akkratum, Marcel Philipe Afonso Scalese, Chaiyaphon Otton; Lucas Tocantins, Peeradon Chamratsamee, Noboru Shimura, Kaka; Worachit Kanitsribumphen, Issam Al Sabhi.
Port boss Treephan will be forced into at least one alteration to his first XI on Wednesday.
Suphanan Bureerat is expected to miss out after being forced off with an injury after just 15 minutes against Lamphun Warrior.
Seksan Ratree and Teerasak Poeiphimai are also in contention to earn recalls after replacing Issam Al Sabhi and Worachit Kanitsribumphen at half-time.
Vissel Kobe: (4-2-3-1) Shuichi Gonda; Issei Takahashi, Tetsushi Yamakawa, Matheus Thuler, Diego; Yosuke Ideguchi, Gotoku Sakai; Yoshinori Muto, Yuta Goke, Katsuya Nagato; Yuya Osako.
Head coach Skibbe is likely to keep faith with the bulk of the same side that edged past Kashima last weekend.
The Japanese visitors have three reported injury issues. Takahiro Ogihara and Daiju Sasaki are expected to miss out with knee injury, while Anderson Lopes is ruled out with a muscle problem.