J1 League Preview: Gamba Osaka Manager Overly Optimistic, Consadole Sapporo to Face Tough Battle With Eight Absences

At 16:30 on October 5, the 33rd round of the J1 League will see Gamba Osaka host relegation-threatened Consadole Sapporo at Panasonic Stadium Suita.

Gamba Osaka lost 0-1 away to their rivals Cerezo Osaka in the rescheduled 29th round match on October 2, losing their second Osaka Derby this season. The loyal fans who came to cheer were visibly disappointed. In the match against Cerezo Osaka, Gamba’s forward Witon once managed to equalize with his speed, but the goal was ruled out due to a marginal offside call, which was quite unfortunate. However, regarding the loss in the derby and the recent poor form, Gamba Osaka’s manager Poyatos showed no signs of disappointment and said, “We are firmly in fifth place, and we also have the Emperor’s Cup semi-final to prepare for.” In response to these comments, the J.League official commented, “In fact, this team has been pushed to a point where they cannot afford to be complacent.”

Currently in the J1 League table, Gamba Osaka is temporarily in 5th place with 13 wins, 11 draws, and 8 losses, trailing the top three by 9 points, making it very difficult to secure an AFC Champions League spot through the league this season. In this season’s 16 home matches, Gamba Osaka achieved 8 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, conceding less than one goal per game on average, maintaining relatively strong competitiveness. However, in the last three home games, Gamba Osaka only managed two points against Avispa Fukuoka, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Tokyo Verdy, even being equalized in stoppage time against Tokyo Verdy, indicating a decline in form.

In terms of squad, Gamba Osaka’s two foreign players Jebali and Ravi will continue to miss the game due to injuries, while goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and central defender Kenta Miyagi, both veterans, are almost ruled out for the season. However, the good news is that Gamba Osaka’s starting right-back Riku Doan returned from injury in the last league game, and new summer signing Daichi Hayashi resumed training this week and is likely to come off the bench to aid the attack. Due to playing twice in a week, Gamba Osaka’s physical condition is not ideal, with many Japanese media expressing concern about the stamina of the team’s veteran players.

Consadole Sapporo defeated relegation rival Kyoto Sanga 2-0 at home in the last league game, quickly regaining form after a 0-2 home loss to Tokyo Verdy, getting back on track to fight for survival. In the match against Kyoto, Sapporo’s main attackers Ryota Aoki and Yuki Kondo performed well. If they can stay healthy, they will be crucial for Sapporo in the final stages. Regarding the current state of the team, Sapporo’s manager Petkovic stated, “Because there are still games against other teams, I am not optimistic. Our situation remains very difficult, and we must win every game, which is a fact that hasn’t changed.”

Currently in the J1 League table, Consadole Sapporo is temporarily in 32nd place with 7 wins, 8 draws, and 17 losses, 6 points away from escaping the relegation zone. Moreover, Omiya Ardija, ranked fourth from the bottom, has played one fewer game due to scheduling, so Sapporo has no initiative to overtake them in points. Additionally, in this season’s 15 away matches, Consadole Sapporo only won 2, drew 4, and lost 9, conceding an average of 2.2 goals per game while scoring just over one goal per game, with mediocre ability to earn points. However, in the last away game, Consadole Sapporo held title contender Machida Zelvia to a 0-0 draw, which should boost morale for this round.

In terms of squad, Sapporo players Shunsuke Takahata, Tatsuya Hasegawa, Yuya Asano, Geon Hee-Kim, Katsuyoshi Takagi, Yusuke Miyazawa, and Supachok are all out due to injuries, all seven being intended starters this season. In addition, Sapporo’s starting striker Kazuma Nemoto will be suspended due to accumulated yellow cards (or absent due to a conflict clause), forcing the team to field foreign striker Sanchez or Bakayoko up front.

In the previous 20 encounters between the two sides, Gamba Osaka has a slight advantage with 9 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. This round, Gamba Osaka, who have gone nine consecutive rounds without a win, will seek an opportunity to bounce back. Will the relegation-minded Consadole Sapporo maintain their recent good form and escape unscathed?

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