League-position context
Sagan Tosu rank15th
Kashima rank3rd
Sagan Tosu points36
Kashima points63
Sagan Tosu: #15 ยท 36 pts ยท GD -21
28 pts off the top 2. 11 pts off the play-off line. 1 pts from safety.
Kashima: #3 ยท 63 pts ยท GD +24
1 pts off the top 2. 16 pts above the play-off edge. 27 pts clear of the relegation zone.
27-point gap between the two sides coming into kick-off.