Kashima Antlers vs Albirex Niigata

Kashima Soccer Stadium is the venue as Kashima Antlers and Albirex Niigata go head-to-head in an exciting J1 League match-up.

Record-time J1 League champions Kashiwa seem destined to fight for their ninth crown and first since 2016 after four consecutive league victories saw them commence this matchday level on points with leaders Machida. With three of those four wins seeing the Antlers score precisely three goals, it’s only natural to assume they’ll post another convincing win against Albirex Niigata. Ranko Popovic’s men have won their last three H2H meetings in all competitions via an identical 2-0 scoreline. Another win ‘to nil’ could be on the cards, considering three of Kashima’s five most recent home league victories have yielded a clean sheet.

Meanwhile, Albirex Niigata’s form has ascended since a 2-1 home loss to Avispa Fukuoka at the end of May, with the visitors stringing together four unbeaten competitive games (W3, D1), including a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Giravanz Kitakyushu in midweek Emperor’s Cup action. An enthralling 4-4 draw in regulation extended an emerging trend that has seen Niigata’s last five competitive games see both teams on the scoresheet. Manager Rikizo Matsuhashi wouldn’t mind another identical scenario after his side failed to find the net on their last three visits to Kashima (L3). But after scoring on seven consecutive travels since mid-April, they’ll be confident of bucking that trend.