In the EMPEROR'S CUP, Usami showed his individual brilliance by scoring two goals despite several substitutions. Gamba won thanks to their key player's goals, but their next goal is to bounce back in the league match, where they suffered their first defeat of the season in the previous round.
As Kishimoto explains, "Head Coach Myojin also said, 'Let's give our all in the game in front of us. We're not looking ahead.'" Their focus has shifted to the game against Hiroshima.

"The top priority is to get back into shape, but what we need to do remains the same," (Head Coach Myojin).
This match will also be an all-out battle, but the game against Hiroshima is not only about aiming for three points, but also an important match for understanding Gamba's current standing.
"They are a strong opponent, but we can definitely beat them if we play to our full potential. I think we can get three points, and we want to focus on winning," the manager said, expressing his passionate determination.

In the J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, they suffered two losses against Hiroshima, led by Head Coach Gaul. Against Hiroshima, who attack with quick transitions and attacks from the flanks, the key to victory will be compactness in both offense and defense.
Head Coach Myojin emphasizes the importance of "maintaining the right distance in attack and defense, and how proactively we can play," but compactness will be crucial. Fresh players like Hummett and Yamashita, who did not play in the EMPEROR'S CUP, will be able to show effective defense from the front line, and it will be essential for the entire team to work together. Among the attackers, JEBALI, who can create time on the pitch, is also ready. "If we can create space when attacking, our chances will increase,"JEBALI says with great enthusiasm.

On the other hand, they have yet to have a clean sheet in the league this season, but what will be important in securing a victory against Hiroshima is dealing with crosses and defending on the flanks. Crosses from Arai and Higashi are something to watch out for, but as the system will be difficult to coordinate, Kishimoto says, "The key is how to contain the opponent's wide players. The distance tends to be long, so we want to maintain a good balance."

Hiroshima also came from behind to win 4-1 against Okinawa SV in the 2nd Leg of the EMPEROR'S CUP , using a squad that was almost a complete rotation. Like Gamba, they will be heading to Panasonic Stadium Suita with the momentum from their EMPEROR'S CUP victory.
Although they drew their last league match against Kawasaki Frontale, Hiroshima have had a good start to the season, sitting in 4th place with 2 wins and 1 draw. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with, but Gamba should be particularly wary of their central attackers. This includes the shadow strikers Suzuki and Kato, but also former Ivory Coast international FW Alley, who joined in July and stands 190cm tall, making him the most dangerous attacker in front of goal.

"It's impossible to prevent them from crossing the ball at all, but if we can play compactly and deal with crosses properly, we'll have more chances," says Suzuki, who is preparing to play in place of the suspended Abe this match. "If we can maintain compactness even in front of our own goal, we'll naturally have more opportunities to win second balls and block shots."
"I think Hiroshima will come in good form, but we're not bad either. That's why the match against Hiroshima is important for us,"JEBALI said, emphasizing the importance of this game.
What Gamba needs right now is to build their style while winning. We will win our last home game of the summer break together with our supporters.