Kashima Antlers vs Newcastle Jets Verdict
Kashima Antlers are tipped to start the AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a comfortable win over Newcastle Jets. The reigning J-League champions are value for a win to nil.
- Kashima have won 15 of their last 16 competitive home games in all comps
- Ten of those 15 wins were to nil & 12 saw Under 4.5 goals
- Jets are winless in six of their last seven games in all comps
- Jets have seen Under 4.5 goals in 11 of their last 13 games in all comps
Head To Head
This will be the second meeting between the clubs, with the first coming back in 2019, with Kashima coming away with a dominant 4-1 win in Champions League qualifying at home.
Kashima Antlers Form
Kashima took out the J-League premiership last season, but it's been a mixed start to the new campaign after eight games.
Toru Oniki's side are currently sitting in eighth spot on the ladder, winning four of their seven games - however, they come into this clash on a three-game losing run.
After a 4-2 loss away to Mito, Kashima were stunned 1-0 at home against Urawa - their first home defeat after 15 previous wins on the bounce.
Kashima failed to bounce back in their most-recent outing this past weekend, suffering a 2-1 defeat on the road to Vissel Kobe.
Kashima Antlers Team News
Aleksandar Cavric came off the bench to score against Kobe in that defeat and might be a chance to feature from the start here.
Brazilian striker Leo Ceara is the current J-League top scorer with eight goals for the season, netting braces against Yokohama, Verdy and Mito - but he missed last weekend's defeat to Kobe and it remains to be seen if he's in the squad for this Champions League opener.
Kashima Antlers Possible Starting XI (4-4-2): Tomoki Hayakawa, Keisuke Tsukui, Naomichi Ueda, Kim Tae-hyeon, Ryoya Ogawa, Rikuto Hirose, Kento Misao, Matheus Bueno, Yuta Matsumura, Yuma Suzuki, Leo Ceara
Newcastle Jets Form
It was a brilliant previous season for the Jets in Mark Milligan's first year in charge.
Newcastle took out the Australia Cup in preseason before finishing top of the table in the A-League regular season, playing an entertaining brand of football that yielded 55 goals and 15 wins from their 26 games.
However, the Jets couldn't secure a historic treble, falling in the semi-finals to Sydney FC on penalties.
As is often the case, the Jets were raided during the winter transfer window and have lost various key players from last term. Newcastle have played just the one match since their A-League season ended, going down 3-2 to NPL Victoria side Preston Lions in the Australia Cup R32 in July.
Newcastle Jets Team News
Eli Adams, Clayton Taylor and Lachie Rose combined for 25 goals for the Jets last season, but all have departed the club - Adams moving to another J-League and Champions League side Gamba Osaka, who the Jets will play later in the competition.
Daniel Wilmering registered the second-most assists last season (eight) and the left wingback will be key to creating chances going forward for the Jets.
New signing Nikos Vergos has arrived from Melbourne Victory and was on target in his Jets debut in the defeat to Preston. Zane Schreiber also made his debut in that game and featured in seven games for Melbourne City in last season's Champions League.
Daniel Wilmering registered the second-most assists last season (eight) and the left wingback will be key to creating chances going forward for the Jets.
Former Sydney FC winger Joe Lolley is also a chance to make his Newcastle debut.
Newcastle Jets Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): James Delianov, Daniel Wilmering, Alex Grant, Max Cooper, Joel Bertolissio, Max Burgess, Zach Clough, Will Dobson, Joe Lolley, Xavier Bertoncello, Nikos Vergos