Kashima come into this ACL Elite match top of the East table on six points, but their league form has gone the other way: a 2-2 draw at Kyoto and then a 2-3 home loss to Kashiwa in the space of four days. Pohang have lost both openers, 1 goal for and 5 against, and their recent K League run is mostly draws. I'd ask whether Kashima's Asian record is covering a leaky stretch at home, or whether Pohang simply don't score enough to use it.
Kashima's side first. According to Sponichi Annex, Kim Tae-hyeon went for tests after a collision late against Kashiwa, probably a knee problem, and Leo Ceara missed that game with a muscle injury. The Kashima beat reporter at GELmaga says Ceara was back at training on the eve of the match, but the report doesn't say whether he is fit to start. Oniki called this a very important game and said he wants three points (club site), so I wouldn't expect a rotated side.
Pohang's side. Park Tae-ha told Ilgan Sports that Kashima are well organised in attack and defence and wouldn't reveal his plan. Kento Nishiya said at the press conference that K League's simple play could be a weapon. That fits their last four games in our records: a 0-0 with Anyang and a 2-2 at Ulsan after a 0-3 at Incheon and a 0-2 home loss to Johor. They are hard to beat only when the game stays plain, and Kashima's last two results show those games being turned into open ones.
So the interlock: Kashima concede when the game gets stretched, Pohang can't score unless it does. If Ceara starts, Kashima probably keep the front line that won both ACL games and Pohang have to decide whether to sit deep or open up. Weather looks calm (clear, light wind, per Weathernews), so no help from conditions.
Sources: J.League official preview, Antlers official site, Sponichi Annex, GELmaga, Ilgan Sports, Best Eleven, and our match records.
