Albirex Niigata edged out Shonan Bellmare 2-1 in a closely contested J1 League fixture on May 25, 2025. The home side at Denka Big Swan Stadium took an early lead and managed to hold off a spirited comeback attempt from Bellmare to claim all three points. Niigata opened the scoring in the first half with a well-worked team move, doubling their advantage shortly after the restart with a powerful strike from outside the box. Shonan pulled one back with twenty minutes remaining, setting up a tense finale, but Albirex's defense stood firm. This victory provided a significant boost for Niigata's league position, moving them into the top half of the table, while Shonan Bellmare were left to rue missed chances in their battle against the drop.