Gamba took on Yokohama FC in their second consecutive match after the J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP , and despite being behind, they still managed to get one point thanks to Yamashita's super goal. "We wanted to get three points somehow, but we got the bare minimum," said Yamashita, who had scored in two consecutive matches. However, in order for Gamba to make a comeback, it is essential that they increase the number of games they win away from home.

Gamba will be playing another away game in just five days, and Kurokawa spoke about their current challenges:
"We haven't been able to keep possession of the ball away from home this season. We need to play like we did against Nagoya, and we want to keep possession of the ball even away from home."

With the exception of the match against Yokohama F･Marinos, where they overwhelmed the opposition with the number of shots, they have struggled to keep possession of the ball on the road this season, and their only away win has been against Tokyo Verdy. With the series of matches starting up again, the key to gaining momentum against FC Tokyo is to increase their ball possession rate and create many scoring opportunities.

FC Tokyo , Head Coach of Matsuhashi, who led Niigata until last season, adopts an unconventional three-back formation and aims to play ball-moving football, but "they are flexible and incorporate the movements of the players in the middle. I think they are the type of team that wants to dominate the game," said Head Coach.

In the match against Yokohama FC, Kurata was deployed as a defensive midfielder for the first time this season. Head Coach Poyatos is prepared to get through consecutive matches without fixing the players every game, so he said, "We need to understand the players we have now and use high pressure appropriately," and he is prepared to adopt a fighting style that suits the players he sends out onto the pitch, but the key point is that the opponent's build-up will be an opportunity to exploit.
"The opponent will try to build up, so they will play risky plays, and in the previous match, they were eaten up by the opponent and created dangerous situations. If we can press well, we can create opportunities," said Kurokawa, and all the players were aware of this point.
Suzuki, who plays as a defensive midfielder and maintains a balance between offense and defense, said, "If we can eliminate the opponent's strengths and turn them into opportunities for ourselves, it will be easier to advance in the game." However, ball-winning and restricting the opponent's defense deep in their own half should be the starting point for Gamba's attacks.

Meanwhile, FC Tokyo, currently in 18th place, is on a winless streak of eight games since the 2018 season, so they should come out looking to win their home game at the Japan National Stadium . "They have individual strength, so if they get too cocky, they'll be a tricky opponent, and it wouldn't be surprising if they started winning at any time. They have that kind of ability," said Usami, expressing his caution. However, the front line is packed with talents that should not be underestimated, including Sato, the team's top scorer with three goals, and Nakagawa, the 2019 J.League MVP, as well as new signing MARCELO RYAN Silvestre Dos Santos, who scored a hat trick in the J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP match against Omiya.
If they can cut off the ball to the front line without giving their attacking wingbacks momentum, Gamba will naturally be able to set the pace.
"The J.League is very close right now. We want to play good football, win and move up the rankings," said Kurokawa. The three points from the away game will give Gamba momentum as they pursue the top spots.