Unstoppable Leo Ceara leads red-hot Kashima against struggling Urawa (Kashima Antlers vs Urawa Red Diamonds prediction) | OneFootball

Kashima vs Urawa: J1 League Heavyweight Clash Preview

Kashima Antlers host Urawa Red Diamonds this Sunday in what promises to be a fascinating J1 League encounter between two of Japan's most decorated clubs. With contrasting form and fortunes, this match could prove pivotal for both sides' ambitions this season.

Current Form

Kashima enter this fixture in blistering form, having won four consecutive matches after an opening day defeat. Their recent 3-1 victory at Kashiwa Reysol extended their impressive run, which has seen them score 11 goals in their last four matches.

Urawa, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency, managing just one win in their last five outings. Their narrow 1-0 victory against Fagiano Okayama provided some relief, but defeats to Kashiwa Reysol (0-2) and Shonan Bellmare (1-2), plus draws against Kyoto Sanga and Vissel Kobe, highlight their difficulties.

Key Players to Watch

Kashima's attack has been firing on all cylinders, led by the prolific Leo Ceara, who arrived from Cerezo Osaka in January and has netted five goals in five matches. His partnership with Yuma Suzuki (three goals) has proven devastating for opposition defences.

The Antlers' midfield creativity comes from experienced Japan international Gaku Shibasaki and the impressive Yuta Higuchi, whose passing accuracy of 83.16% has been instrumental in their attacking fluency.

For Urawa, Brazilian forward Thiago Santana remains their primary attacking threat, while January signing Matheus Savio from Kashiwa Reysol has added creativity in midfield. At the back, new defensive recruit Danilo Boza from Brazilian side Juventude will need to be at his best to contain Kashima's potent attack.

Transfer Impact

Both clubs were extremely active in the January transfer window, but with contrasting results on the pitch.

Kashima's recruitment has been particularly effective, with Leo Ceara making an immediate impact. The additions of Aleksandar Čavrić from Slovan Bratislava and Ryuta Koike from Yokohama F. Marinos (who already has two assists) have significantly strengthened their squad.

Urawa's new signings, including Taishi Matsumoto from Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Takuro Kaneko from Kortrijk, have yet to fully gel. The departure of experienced Dutch forward Bryan Linssen to NEC Nijmegen has left a void in attack that they're still working to fill.

Tactical Analysis

Kashima's success has been built on a solid defensive foundation, with centre-backs Naomichi Ueda and Ikuma Sekigawa providing stability. This platform has allowed their attacking players to flourish, with Koike offering additional threat from full-back.

Urawa have struggled to find defensive consistency, conceding in four of their five matches. Manager Maciej Skorża will need to shore up his backline, with the partnership between Boza and Norwegian Marius Høibråten crucial against Kashima's attack.

The midfield battle between Kashima's Shibasaki and Urawa's Samuel Gustafson could prove decisive, with both players key to their teams' respective approaches.

Prediction

Given their current form, home advantage, and attacking potency, Kashima enter this match as clear favourites. Urawa's defensive frailties suggest they'll struggle to contain Ceara and Suzuki, though they possess enough quality to pose problems on the counter-attack.

Unless Urawa can dramatically improve their defensive organisation, Kashima's momentum should carry them to victory in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.

Predicted Score: Kashima Antlers 2 - 0 Urawa Red Diamonds