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Kashima vs Real Madrid Prediction & Betting tips
At the Sheikh Zayed Sports City, Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Real Madrid will start its World Cup for club teams on Wednesday afternoon. The opponent in the semi-finals is an old friend, because the Spaniards were already two years ago against the Japanese Kashima Antlers. At the time, Real Madrid took the lead with 4-2, making the Spanish football giant officially crowned world champion. The Japanese, however, are seeking revenge.
Kashima :
Kashima Antlers still has an apple to peel with Real Madrid. Two years ago the Japanese showed themselves against De Koninklijke from their best side. After ninety minutes, the scoreboard indicated 2-2, but in the extension Kashima Antlers with a final 4-2 loss had to recognize her superior in Cristiano Ronaldo and consorts.
It was the first time that an Asian club managed to reach the final of the World Cup for club teams, but of course Kashima Antlers wants more. “We will have to play aggressively and solidly against Real Madrid,” says coach Go Oiwa. ‘We know that we can win here and have already demonstrated to Chivas Guadalajara that we are very strong from a mental point of view.’ In the previous round, the Japanese were able to undo an early deficit against the Mexicans and to qualify for a semi-final of the World Cup for club teams. Substitute Hiroki Abe took the third Japanese goal and could well be Oiwa’s secret card, especially because the Brazilian Leandro only just got back from a long injury and thus still lacks a rhythm. Furthermore, it is unclear at what position former Schalke 04 defender Atsuto Uchida will play exactly. In any case, Kashima Antlers did not want to be seen in the maps and trained in the run-up to the cracker against Real Madrid behind closed doors.
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid is this World Cup again the top favorite to the third year in a row to be the best club of this planet to crown, though the Spaniards this season very difficult. The sale of Cristiano Ronaldo has left quite some traces in the Santiago Bernabeu, which longs for fresh blood. The new coach Santiago Solari has managed to lead Los Blancos somewhat to calmer waters, even though he is now under the magnifying glass in the Spanish press. In the embarrassing 0-3 defeat of last week against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, the Argentinian got a lot of criticism. Rightly so, because his fantasy set-up did not make any sense at all. Last weekend, La Liga was narrowly beaten 1-0 by PhD student Rayo Vallecano, but the fans showed their dissatisfaction again with a whipping flute concert. Again, Solari was not free, because the supporters were clearly not satisfied with the exchange policy of the coach. Solari itself remains positive and promises improvement as soon as everyone is completely fit and sharp.
Yet it is too easy to put the debt in the shoes of Solari. The real ones responsible for the decline of Real Madrid are in the Santiago Bernabeu plush. They apparently did not think it necessary to get a decent replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer. Incomprehensible, if you ask me. Karim Benzema is a hard worker, but actually scores far too little for a number nine from Real Madrid. Yet with eleven goals in all competitions, he is club top scorer at Los Merengues. Gareth Bale is a good football player, but the Welsh striker is more likely to be in the rags basket than he is on the pitch. Also for the semi-final against Kashima Antlers he is again a big question mark, just like Benzema. Furthermore, it is not inconceivable that Solari will rotate due to the busy schedule.
Kashima vs Real Madrid head to head matches
18.12.16 CWC Real Madrid Kashima 4 : 2 (2 : 2)