Gamba Osaka, having shifted their focus from the fierce battles of ACL2 to a comeback in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Vision WEST, managed to take the lead at one point in their last match against Okayama thanks to an assist from their key player Usami, who was making his first appearance since the opening match. However, they conceded a heartbreaking equalizer and ultimately secured two points after a penalty shootout.
Despite the tough schedule, Gamba has been accumulating points and is now firmly on the back of league leaders Kobe, but what Gamba needs right now is to rack up points through consecutive wins.
Following their match against Fukuoka, which will be played with 2nd year of junior high school, they have another away match against Nagasaki this weekend, also with only 2nd year of junior high school days' rest. Despite the back-to-back matches, MITO vows to win the Fukuoka game, saying, "We still have a lot of matches to play, but it's important to win both to close the gap with the league leaders, and it's also important to maintain the team's momentum. I want to give my all in each and every match."

Gamba Osaka is known for their tenacity in maintaining their playing style regardless of the opponent, but the key to success in the match against Fukuoka will be their start to the game.
"They conceded a goal from a corner kick in the Okayama match, showing they had a poor start. Fukuoka is also in good form and has a chance to score," Abe acknowledges, expressing caution. Against an opponent that excels at long throws, it's crucial to avoid careless fouls and prevent set pieces. Whoever takes to the pitch, it's time to regain the aggressiveness they displayed in both attack and defense when they were in good form.

Usami showed a glimpse of that brilliance in the Okayama match, and the return of this reliable cornerstone player will be a boost heading into the upcoming matches. However, Gamba's strength lies in their ability to maintain a high level of intensity and collective play in both attack and defense without relying on any single player. They just need to break through Fukuoka's defense with a variety of attacks, including the goal they scored from a set piece in the Okayama match.

Fukuoka, on the other hand, will be heading to Panasonic Stadium Suita with just 2nd year of junior high school days' rest. Fukuoka is currently in last place (10th) in the Meiji Yasuda J1 100-Year Vision WEST league, but manager Vissing has expressed caution, saying, "Fukuoka's Head Coach are counter-attacks and set pieces, but they have also been getting results recently, so I think they will come to our match with confidence."
In the away match, Fukuoka, who had not yet won a game at the time, scored an equalizer in the final moments, and Fukuoka lost in a penalty shootout that went to the 15th player. Fukuoka had lost to Nagoya in a penalty shootout in the previous match, missing out on a fourth consecutive win, but the team's form is clearly improving, having won 1-0 against Nagasaki and Hiroshima before the Nagoya match.

In the match against Nagoya, only Japanese players were on the pitch, and Fukuoka's style is gradually becoming established, with a two-goal lead based on hard work. Okuno, a product of Gamba's academy, is also working hard in both attack and defense as a defensive midfielder. Needless to say, attention should also be paid to DF Tsujioka, who conceded a goal away from home.
"The whole team is conscious of how we start and finish the game. If we play a perfect game against Fukuoka, it will create good momentum. No matter who plays, we all want to be determined to win." (MITO)
With a focus solely on winning within 90 minutes, every player on the pitch will work together to avenge the away defeat against Fukuoka.