Gamba Osaka, who have a packed schedule of matches in various domestic and international tournaments from October onwards, will face Kashiwa Reysol in the 4th Leg of the J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP 1st Round . In their most recent official match, the 3rd Leg round of the EMPEROR'S CUP 's Cup, Gamba achieved a resounding 5-0 victory against Tokushima, and they have won all four of their official cup matches this season. While their ace, Usami, who is in excellent form in cup matches, will undoubtedly lead the team, their victories have been built on the combined efforts of the entire team.

Following the match against Tokushima, where the theme was to maintain the same style regardless of who was on the pitch, the match against Kashiwa, after a nine-day interval, will be a mission to reproduce the newly established style of play against an even higher-level opponent.
"I think Kashiwa is one of the top possession-based teams in J1, and how we defend against them will be one of the key points of this match," (Head Coach Myojin).

Kashiwa's ball-movement style, under Head Coach RICARDO RODRIGUEZ Suarez, is already well-established, and Gamba lost both of their league matches against them last season. Fukuoka acknowledged Kashiwa's strengths, saying, "We were pretty beaten in our most recent encounter, and we can't forget that," but also stated, "While we have to consider the opponent's style, we have to stick to our own. If we can win the ball back successfully, we can create chances with our counter-attacks," outlining their path to victory.

The key to the match against Kashiwa is clear. Against Kashiwa, who want to control the ball, Gamba's primary goal is to completely take the ball back from Kashiwa. As Head Coach Myojin said, "The overall defensive intensity, including the front line, has increased. The FW are working hard, so the performance is getting better," and indeed, in the match against Kobe, Tsuchida, and in the match against Tokushima, Hummett, acted as the first defender, constantly activating the defensive switch.
Hummett also believes that "finding the right timing to press is crucial," and intends to chase the ball cleverly and with dedication.

On the other hand, Kashiwa finished 8th out of 10 teams in the Meiji Yasuda J1 J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE EAST, but they have maintained good form this season and are currently in 2nd place behind Kobe.
Due to the long periods they maintain possession of the ball, Fukuoka has the fourth fewest shots conceded in the league, but their 12 goals conceded are the eighth most. Fukuoka also speaks of the key to beating Kashiwa, saying, "The opponent puts many players on the ball side, so if we can win the ball there, it becomes our chance." However, the only way to break down Kashiwa's defense is through quick attacks after winning the ball back.

Kashiwa, having lost 1-3 to Hiroshima in last season's J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP final, will undoubtedly be highly motivated for this tournament. In their most recent league match, only Japanese players took to the pitch, where they defeated then-leaders Machida 4-2. However, the Japanese attackers to watch out for are Kakita at the forefront and Fujio, who joined from Machida in August.
Gamba will face a series of away games, starting with the match against Kashiwa. Head Coach Myojin emphasized, "We won't be able to bring victory unless we win with the strength of everyone."
In the J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP, where they aim to reach the top once again, Gamba Osaka is only looking to start with a win.