Andrés Iniesta’s excellent start to the 2022 season continued on Sunday as he scored his 20th J.League goal to help lead Vissel Kobe to a 1-1 draw at Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

The Spanish legend created four chances, spraying the ball around the final third and generating dangerous opportunities throughout the contest. He put in a massive shift defensively too, popping up in all parts of the pitch to turn Sanfrecce around while still getting forward to make a difference with his passing.

While Iniesta’s all-around showing was fantastic, the big contribution he made in this match was his goal. Hotaru Yamaguchi received the ball on the right and spotted Iniesta making a well-timed run. The Spanish legend finished clinically to give Vissel an early lead.

The goal marked Iniesta’s 20th in the J.League. He’s coming off a six-goal campaign in 2021, his highest-scoring year in Japan, and he’s carried that form into this season with an outstanding start.

While Sanfrecce came back to equalize and forced Vissel to split the points, continuing their winless start to the season, the visitors have to feel good about delivering an accomplished away performance with Iniesta at the heart of it.