Tokyo vs Kashima Antlers

Ajinomoto Stadium is the venue as Tokyo and Kashima Antlers go head-to-head in a mid-table J1 League encounter.

After going five straight league matches without a draw (W2, L3), Tokyo shared the spoils with Urawa Reds in a tepid 0-0 stalemate last weekend before squeaking past lower-league Verdy on penalties in midweek Emperor’s Cup action. A three-game unbeaten league run (W2, D1) has gone some way in restoring Tokyo’s shattered confidence, but they remain stuck in the lower reaches. Kashima’s upcoming visit to the Ajinomoto Stadium should help Peter Cklamovski’s men maintain their momentum, as they’ve emerged victorious in two of their last three top-flight H2Hs (D1). The continuation of that streak looks like a near-certainty, at least based on Tokyo’s flawless four-game home form in all competitions (W4).

On the other hand, Kashima Antlers’s rotten patch hit a new low in the Emperor’s Cup on Wednesday as they bowed out to second-tier Kofu via penalties, making it four competitive matches without a win (D2, L2). Kashiwa’s last two J1 League outings have ended level, an outcome they’d take any day of the week in Tokyo, especially after going winless on their four most recent travels (D3, L1). Against this backdrop, the visitors have racked up two victories on their last three top-flight visits to Tokyo (L1), with each game (won/lost) in this sequence seeing the winner concede precisely once. Flying out of the trapps would significantly bolster Kashiwa’s chances of taking home three points, considering they’ve won four out of five away league fixtures when leading at halftime this term (D1).