V-Varen Nagasaki welcome Kashima Antlers at Peace Stadium, Nagasaki on Saturday, May 15 at 12:00 PM in a J1 League fixture that's tighter on paper than the positions suggest — just 1 point split them in the table.

V-Varen Nagasaki come into this fixture out of form (1W 2L recently). Kashima Antlers travel struggling badly (1W 3L in last 5), which may hand the initiative to the hosts.

Despite playing at home, V-Varen Nagasaki face a side that has dominated this fixture historically. Kashima Antlers have won 5 of 5 encounters. Their last encounter ended in V-Varen Nagasaki won 1–2. These two tend to produce goals — averaging 3.6 per game in recent meetings.

Verdict: This looks an evenly matched contest. Home advantage gives V-Varen Nagasaki a slight edge, but Kashima Antlers are capable of causing problems. A draw would be a fair result.