League-position context
Shimizu S-pulse rank8th
Kashima rank3rd
Shimizu S-pulse points49
Kashima points56
Shimizu S-pulse: #8 ยท 49 pts ยท GD +8
8 pts off the top 2. 1 pts above the play-off edge. 8 pts clear of the relegation zone.
Kashima: #3 ยท 56 pts ยท GD +11
1 pts off the top 2. 8 pts above the play-off edge. 15 pts clear of the relegation zone.
7-point gap between the two sides coming into kick-off.