The Facts
- An upper-table contender faces a competitive test against mid-table opposition (ranked 6th and 14th).
- Kashima arrives with excellent momentum after picking up several victories (last 5 matches: 4 wins).
- Performances by V-Varen Nagasaki have been somewhat unpredictable lately (last 5 matches: 1 win).
- Kashima carries the favorite tag into this contest.
- Confirmed absences for Kashima: Anzai K. (Knee Injury) Higuchi Y. (Leg Injury).
- Confirmed absences for V-Varen Nagasaki: Campbell N. (Hamstring Injury) Emerson Deocleciano (Knee Injury) Nagura T. (Illness) Radotic L. (Inactive) Takahata K. (Inactive).
- Our forecast points to a victory for Kashima in today's match, at odds of 1.51.
- In the last 5 head-to-head meetings, Kashima has recorded 5 wins, 0 draws, and 0 losses, with a goal aggregate of 12:6 (averaging 2.4:1.2 goals per game).
- Specifically in home fixtures for Kashima against this opponent, the record stands at 4 wins, 0 draws, and 0 losses, with 10:5 goals (averaging 2.5:1.3 per game).
Standings
| Pl | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | |||
| 1 | Kashiwa Reysol | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 21:14 | 7 | 21 |
| 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 22:6 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 | Machida | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 22:10 | 12 | 20 |
| 4 | FC Tokyo | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17:8 | 9 | 20 |
| 5 | Vissel Kobe | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14:9 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 | Kashima Antlers | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 19:16 | 3 | 16 |
| 7 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13:9 | 4 | 15 |
| 8 | Kawasaki Frontale | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 17:14 | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | Okayama | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12:12 | 0 | 13 |
| 10 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 8:9 | -1 | 13 |
| 11 | Urawa Reds | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 16:21 | -5 | 12 |
| 12 | Cerezo Osaka | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7:12 | -5 | 12 |
| 13 | Mito | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12:13 | -1 | 9 |
| 14 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11:16 | -5 | 9 |
| 15 | Nagoya Grampus | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9:15 | -6 | 9 |
| 16 | Kyoto | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11:16 | -5 | 8 |
| 17 | Avispa Fukuoka | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11:13 | -2 | 7 |
| 18 | Gamba Osaka | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8:16 | -8 | 6 |
| 19 | Chiba | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8:19 | -11 | 5 |
| 20 | Verdy | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4:14 | -10 | 4 |
Promotion ~ AFC Champions League (League phase: )
Relegation ~ J2 League
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