Kashima Antlers vs Chivas Guadalajara Predictions

Kashima Antlers’ season came to an end on the first of December, and the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup runners-up finished third in the J1 League. Seventeen games have been played so far in Liga MX and Guadalajara occupy eleventh place, six points off making it to the cut for the next phase of the campaign. The Mexican’s haven’t played since late November and are bound to be a little short on match fitness, unlike their Japanese opponents who last played on the 5th December.

Kashima Antlers took on Urawa Reds in the Semi-Finals of the Emperor Cup, but ended up losing the game 1-0. Brazilian defender Maurício scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the twenty-seventh minute, leaving Kashima Antlers kicking themselves at another missed opportunity to claim their sixth Emperor Cup. The silver lining for Kashima that day was that none of their players picked up any injuries during the ninety minutes, and the same starting eleven are likely to take to the field against Guadalajara on Saturday.

Guadalajara came so close to holding Tigres UNAL to a goalless draw last time out, but were eventually beaten by their guests thanks to a stoppage time strike. The hosts only managed 39% of the overall possession, two corners, and one shot on target during the ninety minutes and the best they ever looked like doing was holding out for a point. However, in this game of very few chances Tigres managed to take the last of theirs in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the match through substitute Rodríguez.

Suzuki top scores in the league this season for Kashima Antlers with eleven goals, while Kanazaki has chipped in with six goals, and Doi has five. After seventeen games in the Liga, MX Zaldívar has scored six goals and leads the way for Guadalajara, while teammate Pulido has weighed in with three goals. The Japanese side head into this Quarter-Final tie as the clear form favourites with three wins, two draws, and just one defeat from their last six matches. Guadalajara have been in poor form with just one win, two draws, and three defeats from their last six matches in Liga MX.

We’re confident that Kashima Antlers will beat Guadalajara on Saturday and progress through to the Semi-Finals via a comfortable 2-0 victory. Kashima have won three of their last six matches in all competitions, while Guadalajara have lost three of their last six matches in Liga MX.

Kashima have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, and Guadalajara have conceded two goals on three occasions in their last six matches. Kashima Antlers have history in this competition and made it all the way through to the final in 2016, only to lose the game.