The opening match of the J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, which was Vissing's debut as Head Coach , was played in front of an away crowd of 42,101, and Gamba was declared the winner.
Although the outcome could not be decided in 90 minutes, all kickers in the penalty shootout, the first in Osaka Derby history, were successful. Not only the 11 players on the pitch, but also the players and staff on the bench joined forces, and this victory was a united effort that undoubtedly gave the team momentum.
Regarding the supporters who cheered with a volume that made it hard to believe they were playing away, the manager frankly said, "I really think our supporters are the best, and I want to do better next time too." However, with only the second game since the start of the season, it was an important match that Gamba could not afford to lose.

The knockout stage of ACL2, which kicks off with a match against Pohang, is a tournament in which Gamba, taking on the baton from former Head Coach Poyatos, should run all the way to the top.

Gamba advanced through the group stage with a perfect record, but what's required in home and away matches is game management throughout the 180 minutes.
Head Coach, who is already facing a big game in just his second game in charge, said:
"This is my first time in ACL2. It's not going to end with just one match, there are two matches, one home and one away, so it's important to use your head properly, including game management."
Since the away goals rule is not used in ACL2, there is no need to take risks and attack, but careless conceding goals is absolutely forbidden.

Pohang excels at physical strength and set pieces, and Nakatani and Hatsuse have both played against them while playing for Nagoya and Kobe, respectively. Gamba generally wants to press aggressively from the front and advance the game into the opposition's half, as they did in the derby, but they will need to be careful when Pohang evades their press with long balls and other moves. "Korean teams are physical teams, so I hope I can convey that to the team, including the importance of not being outmatched by their strength," said Nakatani.

Pohang finished second in the group stage, but are poised to finish fourth in the 2025 K League. This season, Nishiya joined on loan from Tosu, and with a foreign attacker up front, their offense will be a key focus.

Gamba will be making their first appearance in the knockout stage of the Asian league since the 2015 ACL, and with Higashiguchi and Kurata, who have fond memories of that time, they'll want to manage the two matches, totaling 180 minutes, well.

As this is Pohang's first official match of the season, a win on the road would be the best scenario, but even a draw would be a major gain.

"Pohang are a very tough and strong team. I'm looking forward to it, but since we're away, I hope we can play cleverly," said Nakatani.

The home-and-away battle, where not losing will also be important, is about to begin.

As with the derby, Gamba takes to the away pitch, solely focused on the results.