The Facts
- Kashima is in solid form heading into this fixture (last 5 matches: 3 wins).
- Pohang has shown an inconsistent pattern in recent weeks (last 5 matches: 1 win).
- Pohang could enjoy a physical edge thanks to more rest days ahead of this match.
- In this match, Kashima enters as the overwhelming favorite.
- These two teams have no recorded direct encounters in recent history.
Standings
League phaseEast
| Pl | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | |||
| 1 | Vissel Kobe | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | Johor DT | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:1 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | Beijing Guoan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Kashima Antlers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:1 | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Gamba Osaka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:2 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Kyoto | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:3 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6:3 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Shanghai Port | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9:8 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Daejeon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | Jeonbuk | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:5 | -1 | 4 |
| 11 | Cong An Ha Noi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | -3 | 3 |
| 12 | Buriram | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | -1 | 1 |
| 13 | Ratchaburi | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:7 | -3 | 1 |
| 14 | Pohang | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:5 | -4 | 0 |
| 15 | Port MTI FC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:10 | -8 | 0 |
| 16 | Newcastle Jets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:15 | -11 | 0 |
West
| Pl | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | |||
| 1 | Al Ain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:2 | 8 | 9 |
| 2 | Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | Al Ahli SC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Esteghlal F.C | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Al Hilal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Shamal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4:2 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Al Qadsiah | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4:3 | 1 | 5 |
| 8 | Al Ittihad | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:4 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Al Nassr | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | -2 | 3 |
| 10 | Neftchi Fargona | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:5 | -2 | 3 |
| 11 | Al Quwa Al Jawiya | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2:5 | -3 | 3 |
| 12 | Pakhtakor | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2:3 | -1 | 2 |
| 13 | Tractor | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:3 | -2 | 1 |
| 14 | Al Sadd | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:6 | -5 | 1 |
| 15 | Al Gharafa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3:6 | -3 | 0 |
| 16 | Al Wasl | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:5 | -3 | 0 |
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