In the match against Sapporo, Gamba demonstrated the team's growth and change since the first year under Poyatos, when the team struggled towards the end of the season.
In a tough game, trailing by one point, Usami showed his brilliance as a treasure in added time of the second half, and the team achieved a brilliant comeback victory. After fighting together with the supporters to press the opponent's goal, the team grabbed three points for the first time in 10 league matches.
"I feel like the team has become stronger and more competitive. We want to aim for the top spot in the remaining games," said Head Coach Poyatos, expressing his satisfaction with the changes in the team. However, after the break for the national team week, Gamba will face Kawasaki F away.

In recent years, Gamba has struggled against Kawasaki F., but since Head Coach Poyatos took over, they have won all three games. They have scored a total of nine goals in the three games and have defeated tough opponents.
In the interval after the Sapporo match, Head Coach Poyatos said, "In the attack, we have been working on the one-third of the opponent's territory, the movement behind, the relationship of the third man, and automatism." He started to build up the offensive side. This will be a match where he should show the results of that.

Led by ace Usami, who increased his tally to 11 goals this season in the match against Sapporo, Gamba will try to break through the goal gap, but it seems that the game may go in a different direction than in the past three matches against Kawasaki F.
"Since Kawasaki F switched to a 4-4-2 formation, I think they've shifted to a more intense style, with players who can fight physically up front," says Usami. Kawasaki F has used an offensive 4-3-3 formation, but in recent matches they have played in a 4-4-2 formation, showing that they are not obsessed with ball possession.
Although they suffered two losses to Niigata in the semi-finals of the Levain Cup, they have won league matches since adopting the 4-4-2 formation, beating Niigata 5-1 and Machida 4-1, so their offensive power and front line attackers are definitely something to watch out for.

Gamba, along with Machida, continues to concede the fewest goals in the league, but the secret to their solid defense is the way in which all the team members work hard. Coach Head Coach demands the dedication of everyone on the pitch, saying, "Be loyal to the team and do what you have to do," but against the current Kawasaki F, the defense and movement of the front line will also be key.
Usami said, "Quick switching is important, but we also need to make sure Kawasaki F's two strikers don't get to do their job. We want to make sure the opponent doesn't get to kick good balls, and even if they do kick, we want to make sure the front line doesn't drop back and stretch out the gaps."

Kawasaki F was eliminated from the Levain Cup and will not win a title this season, but on the 16th, they announced the retirement of Head Coach Oniki, who had led them for eight seasons. Naturally, they will be highly motivated to face Gamba. They need to be particularly wary of the two strikers , ERISON Danilo De Souza and Yamada, who have each scored three goals in their last two league games, and Marcio Augusto Da Silva Barbosa(MARCINHO), who plays on the left wing.
Yamamoto, who played for Gamba until last season, is also beginning to make his presence felt as one of the double defensive midfielders, so attention will need to be paid to his tactical acumen and passing.
Starting with the match against Kawasaki F, Gamba will face Nagoya and the EMPEROR'S CUP semi-finals. It's time to beat these tough opponents and accelerate again.