Kashima Antlers vs Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo

Kashima Soccer Stadium sets the stage for a lopsided J1 League encounter between title-bidding Kashima Antlers and relegation-threatened Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.

Kashima’s hopes of winning a record-extending ninth J1 League title are in tatters after a four-game winless league run (D3, L1) condemned them to a five-point deficit on table-topping Machida. After three consecutive draws, Ranko Popovic’s side slumped to a dismal 3-1 defeat at Vissel Kobe last time out. It was the fourth time in their five most recent top-flight games that Kashima couldn’t keep a clean sheet. Therefore, Sapporo’s visit could be just what the doctor ordered, with the home team racking up four consecutive shutouts against this opposition (W3, D1) while winning the last two H2Hs via an identical 3-0 scoreline. Virtually unplayable at the Kashima Soccer Stadium, Popovic’s men have yet to lose a home league outing in 2024 (W6, D4).

It’s hard to envisage rock-bottom Consadole Sapporo becoming the first J1 League team to win at this stadium this term, especially after losing their last seven league games on the trot. Nailed to the foot of the standings, nine points adrift of safety, the visitors are desperate for something in Kashima. But Sapporo’s embarrassing win ratio of only 9.52% paints a bleak picture for under-pressure manager Mihailo Petrovic (W2, D5, L14). On top of that, Sapporo’s wasteful form on the road has seen them lose seven of their ten away league matches this term (D3, L7), conceding an alarming 2.5 goals per game on average! As if that’s not worrying enough, they’ve lost their last two top-flight fixtures away from home ‘to nil.’