Gamba is back on the battlefield for the first time in about two weeks after a break due to the Asian final qualifying round for the World Cup. After 19 games, the halfway point of the league, they are in 12th place (provisional), but the first step towards a comeback is their away game against Shimizu.
Gamba has enjoyed a productive break, including new recruit Abe, but the team's areas of improvement were clear. "We conceded the same number of goals as we did in the first half of the season, so we need to reduce that number first," said Fukuoka, while Ravi added, "It's not just a matter of the defense, we need to play better defense from the front."
Head Coach Poyatos does not stick to just one style, and has seen effective pressing from the front and explosive long counterattacks in the games they have won this season. However, he is confident in correcting the team's shortcomings, saying, "I'm satisfied because we've been able to get a good amount of practice."
It's always good to have good results, but what's important in the first game after the restart is to get three points. "Winning will help us get on a roll, but it's also important to keep our heads firmly on the ground and take things one step at a time," Suzuki said emphatically.

Poyatos Gamba will play according to the characteristics of the attackers they use at the front line and the style of their opponents, but this season their main focus will be on seizing the ball in the opponent's territory. "We need to not let the opponent get close to ours, and play both offensively and defensively in the opponent's territory,"Ichimori said, emphasizing that good offense and pressing will naturally lead to good defense.
Gamba won 1-0 at home with a goal from Yamashita, but when it came to Shimizu, who excels at build-up, Head Coach Poyatos expressed caution, saying, "They're a team with solid mechanics. They've also beaten Kobe at home, so they're a tough opponent."
Fukuoka is wary of the two defensive midfielders , MATHEUS BUENO Batista and Uno, as they "will launch high-quality attacks if given freedom," and they want to limit the individual strengths of players such as Inui, who plays as an attacking midfielder, and Capixaba on the left wing.

Shimizu's new signing, left-back Matheus Brunetti, made his debut in the 2nd Leg of the EMPEROR'S CUP during the break. There is a possibility that he will be on the pitch again this week, but Gamba will also be going all out to beat Shimizu, including Suzuki, who will be returning from suspension, and WELTON, who has been improving his condition.

Just like Gamba, who are looking for their first win in five games, Shimizu, who are in 9th place at the halfway point of the first half of the season, are hungry for victory. Shimizu only managed one win in the league games held in May, but Kitagawa, who has scored the most goals on the team, was not included in the squad for the Emperor's EMPEROR'S CUP. Chiba, who returned to the team after a development-type loan transfer to J2 Fujieda, will be on the pitch in the second half of the EMPEROR'S CUP 2nd Leg, and if he plays against Gamba, it will be his J1 debut. It goes without saying that he is a greedy scorer, so we need to be careful.

"Getting one win after the break will give us the confidence to think, 'We can do it,'" said Ichimori . The second half of the season will begin three days later, with the important 2nd Leg of the EMPEROR'S CUP on the horizon. Gamba takes to the pitch with the sole focus on victory.