Gamba Osaka vs Kashima Antlers

Panasonic Stadium Suita sets the stage for a lopsided J1 League contest between out-of-sorts Gamba Osaka and table-topping Kashima Antlers. 

Gamba’s league season is descending into chaos after a three-game winless streak (D1, L2) pinned them to mid-table. Eight points adrift of third-placed Hiroshima, Dani Poyatos’ charges must return to the win column against a Kashima side they’ve failed to beat in their last two top-flight H2Hs (D1, L1). The hosts can draw confidence from winning three consecutive home league outings before a 1-0 defeat to Hiroshima in their most recent fixture here. A fast start is mandatory, considering they’ve lost both home league matches this season after conceding the opening goal. Furthermore, they failed to reply on both occasions. Ominously, they’ve lost three of their last four top-flight home meetings with Kashima (W1).

On the other hand, Yokohama F. Marinos knocked Kashima down from an outstanding seven-game winning streak, beating the league leaders 3-1 last time out. As a result, Kashima’s lead over second-placed Kashiwa Reysol is only three points pre-round. Nonetheless, they’re still well-positioned to claim their first J1 League title since 2016, though improving their patch away form is imperative. Indeed, Toru Oniki’s men have blown hot and cold across their eight league travels this season (W4, L4). However, they had won three successive league matches on the road before the abovementioned slump at Yokohama, with two of those three victories accompanied by a clean sheet.