Kashima Antlers and Yokohama F·Marinos are J.League originals. Not only were they founding members of the league, but 31 years later they’ve never been relegated from the top flight and they’ve won more titles than any other club, with Kashima’s eight followed by F·Marinos’ five.

Whenever two titans like Antlers and the Tricolor clash, it is must-see TV, but this one takes on even more importance with Kashima in the thick of the title race and F·Marinos coming off the AFC Champions League final. That means all eyes will be on the Japan National Stadium on Saturday at 15:00 JST for one of the best matches of the season, live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.

Kashima enter the contest second in the table and only three points off the top as they chase their first J1 crown since 2016. They’ve won their last three matches and their 27 goals are tied for best in the league.

Yuma Suzuki has paced the team with seven goals, tied for fourth-best in the league, but their recent surge has been as much about the help he’s gotten lately. Winter signing Aleksandar Čavrić in particular has been excellent in recent weeks, scoring four goals and adding an assist in the last six contests despite coming off the bench in each match.

The Antlers defense has gotten better lately too. They’ve put up clean sheets in the last two matches and have only allowed multiple goals in one match since April 20.

With Suzuki and Čavrić flying up front, then an improving defense behind them, it’s no wonder Antlers are in the hunt for Japanese football’s ultimate prize.

F·Marinos haven’t had the same success in the league this season, sitting in 14th place, but their standing is misleading. Not only have they prioritized the AFC Champions League, where they went all the way to the continental final, but they have had matches rescheduled to accommodate the pan-Asian tournament. As a result, they’ve only played 13 games as we approach Matchweek 17.

That does put the pressure on the Tricolor to pick up results and make up the ground they’ve lost to rescheduled contests, though. A win over Kashima would not just make a statement that they are ready to put their full focus on J1 play now, but along with the three matches they have in hand, would make them a very dangerous team to fly up the table.

Reigning J1 joint Top Scorer Anderson Lopes is as good as ever in 2024. He’s scored nine goals, which is third-best in the league, and he did it while also leading the Tricolor in Champions League goals. His countrymen Élber and Yan Matheus are in fine form too. Add in the emerging #NextGenJLEAGUE star Asahi Uenaka and Yokohama have the firepower to compete with any team in the league on their day.

Kashima and F·Marinos have the pedigree and the full trophy cases, but they have no intention of living in the past. They want to add silverware this year and they have the starpower to do just that.

Will Suzuki and Antlers move closer to their record ninth title? Or will Anderson Lopes and F·Marinos begin a climb to win back the crown they last wore in 2022?

Tune in live from the Japan National Stadium and see two J.League heavyweights square off in a must-see contest!