Kashima Antlers vs Sagan Tosu

Kashima Soccer Stadium plays host to a tasty-looking J1 League clash between title-bidding Kashima Antlers and Sagan Tosu.

Despite Kashima’s indifferent three-game J1 League form (W1, D1, L1), they remain firmly in contention for their first top-flight title since 2016, with table-topping Kawasaki Frontale only one point clear ahead of the kick-off. That’s mainly thanks to Kashima’s decent home record this term (W5, D1, L2), with the ‘Antlers’ winning their last two home league outings by 3+ goals ‘to one.’ The hosts must be feeling confident about making it three on the trot, aware that they’ve won their three previous top-flight H2Hs at the Kashima Soccer Stadium by an aggregate score of 5-1.

On the other hand, Sagan Tosu’s abysmal four-game form in J1 League (W1, D2, L2) has seen them slip five points below third-placed Yokohama F. Marinos. After drawing a blank in their last two league fixtures (D1, L1), the ‘Sagan’ may feel sorry about themselves, knowing they’ve won none of their seven previous J1 League visits to Kashima (D2, L5) since a narrow 1-0 triumph in December 2014. The away goals have been at a premium for Sagan Tosu in 2022. They’ve netted one or fewer on each of their 11 road trips across all competitions this calendar year, casting doubt on their ability to end a disastrous league streak at the Kashima Soccer Stadium.