Kashima Antlers vs Kashiwa Reysol 24.10.2026: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

The previous round ended in heartbreak for Kashima Antlers, who conceded a dramatic equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time and saw three precious points slip away. Now the reigning Japanese champions face a vital home fixture against a direct table rival, and the dressing room is hardly brimming with confidence. Kashiwa Reysol, on the other hand, managed to frustrate Tokyo in midweek — the question is whether the yellow-and-black outfit can follow up with another positive result on the road.

Kashima Antlers

Kashima currently sit sixth in the J1 League standings, having collected 20 points from 11 matches. The defending champions have been in prolific form in front of goal, netting at least twice in each of their last four league outings. Yet the defensive worries that have plagued Toru Oniki’s side show no signs of disappearing. Opponents continue to create far too many clear openings against the red-clad backline.

In the 11th round, the Antlers were held to a 2–2 draw away at Kyoto. It was, by most measures, a thoroughly dominating display from last season’s best team in Japan. Kashima outperformed their hosts in expected goals (1.98 to 0.31), fired 11 shots on target against Kyoto’s three, and earned five corners to two. Still, victory eluded them. The champions paid a heavy price for over-celebrating a goal that seemed to seal the match, with the clock already past the 90th minute. Japanese referees are notoriously meticulous about adding maximum stoppage time, and Kyoto took full advantage of the two minutes remaining to snatch a point and punish Oniki’s men for their premature joy.

Kashiwa Reysol

Kashiwa Reysol have made a strong start to the season, occupying fifth place with 22 points after 11 rounds. Their most recent outing showcased a much-improved defensive performance, as they kept a clean sheet against a tricky opponent — even if they failed to find the net themselves. That result, a goalless draw away to Tokyo, represents a clear step in the right direction.

The match in the capital was an evenly contested affair. Shots on target were level at 3–3, and both sides took five corners apiece. Tokyo looked sharper in the opening half, while Kashiwa gradually grew into the game and seemed closer to a breakthrough after the interval. Ultimately, sharing the spoils was a fair reflection of the balance of play. It was one of those rare modern football matches where the defence proved no weaker than the attack.

Prediction and Bet

Historically, Kashima have been a tough nut to crack for Kashiwa when playing on home soil. The hosts’ attacking machinery is currently firing on all cylinders, with the reigning champions scoring at least two goals per game on a regular basis over the past few weeks. Kashiwa, by contrast, are experiencing a creative crisis. They have managed just one goal in their last two matches, and that came from a moment of individual brilliance rather than any coherent team build-up. Therefore, backing a Kashima victory at odds of 2.25 looks like the sensible play.

Looking at the total goals market, the numbers tell a compelling story. Kashima average 2.09 goals scored per match this season, while conceding 1.64 per game. Kashiwa, meanwhile, average 2.02 goals per match, with opponents scoring 1.55 times against them on average. Combining these figures, the average total goals in Kashima’s games is 3.73, while for Kashiwa it is 3.55. Both sides possess formidable attacking quality, so the value clearly lies with over 2.5 goals, available at 1.75.