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MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE 25th Sec.
2025.8.10(Sun) 19:00 KICK OFF

vs.Fagiano Okayama

Panasonic Stadium Suita

DAZN to watch the match

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2025.8.9［TEAM］

[Preview] It's time to show the results of our hard work. We got revenge against Okayama and are on our way to a third consecutive win.

Gamba returns to the battlefield after a three-week break since their first come-from-behind victory of the season against Kawasaki F in the league.
"What I've confirmed with the players is where there is space, how to move the opponent who has five players, and what path we can take to move forward," said Head Coach Poyatos, revealing the aims of the team's efforts.

Gamba will be looking to make a comeback in the league from August onwards, but it will be essential to be able to break open opponents who use a five-man back line to close the gaps in their back line. After the Okayama match, they will face opponents who use a five-man back line, such as Machida, Hiroshima and Yokohama FC, so the Okayama match will be a test for Gamba.
Many opponents are wary of WELTON and Yamashita, who are Gamba's strong points, and will try to eliminate space in the back line, but what will be required in the match against Okayama is to attack while having a common understanding, including building up from the back line.
Miura said, "We've been focusing on keeping possession of the ball and dominating the game for as long as possible," but Okayama's quick transitions and tenacious defense mean they can't be broken down by a one-dimensional attack.

Starting with this match, the so-called "8-second rule" was put into effect, limiting the time GK could hold the ball in their hands to eight seconds, but Ichimori was the one to take the first step in the attack, moving the ball and taking the initiative.

However, with rain expected, the start of the match will require careful consideration. "Okayama has a solid defense, so if we concede the first goal, it will be difficult. They are a team that comes at you with a lot of power in the early stages, so we want to play it safe," Handa said, expressing his caution.
Okayama not only applies high pressure from the front line but also switches quickly, but Gamba can only counter them with the effective ball movement style they have shown in many of their home wins this season.

Okayama, on the other hand, is currently on a two-game losing streak, having lost 1-2 to Kobe in the previous round, but is currently in 12th place after the last round, the highest position among the newly promoted teams this season.
Head Coach Kiyama, who previously played for Gamba and has been a coach since the middle of the 2021 season, has instilled a solid style in Okayama, but the attackers in the second row and on the sides are the ones to be wary of. Lucao, who will be a key player up front, boasts some of the strongest physical strength in J1, but I think Miura will also "decide to play up front and send in long balls in many of his attacks. There, we need to make sure that they don't create opportunities and don't let the opponent get into a rhythm," he emphasized.
Gamba has won two games since Miura returned to the starting lineup, but it goes without saying that they will also need to deal with second balls after shutting down Lucao.

Sato, who made his senior national team debut in the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup in June, has scored four goals, the most on the team, but Handa, who will be matched up against him, said, "Okayama has Esaka on the left flank and several other key players, so if we can contain them, the opponents' attacks will slow down a bit," and he plans to shut them out with his signature ironclad defense.
"This match will be a very important one for us,"Head Coach Poyatos. Gamba will aim to avenge their away loss and make a comeback this summer with a third consecutive league win.

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