Gamba Osaka – DF Kaji out for another month, DF Eduardo out for at least another month. FW Kawanishi approaches fitness after sis months out with a broken leg.
Urawa Reds – Naoki Yamada is the only (long-term) injury absentee.

An overwhelming 11 wins for Gamba Osaka in the last decade, as opposed to just four for Urawa Reds – with eight draws in those 23 meetings, which includes two AFC Champions league ties.

Gamba Osaka (P12 W2 D3 L7 GD -10) have had a torrid start to the season since the resignation of manager Akira Nishino at the end of the last campaign. Their original team of Serrao and Lopes didn’t last long and now Gamba’s youngest ever manager – Masanobu Matsunami – is in charge and hoping to turn thing around. Gamba had had, and still have, their injury problems, and are trying to bring in a a lot of young players – perhaps too many at one time, so the older heads like Endo, Myojin and Futagawa are going to have to pull this team through! Excellent performances in the national team will have given Konno some confidence, also. The Gamba revival starts here!?

Urawa Reds (P13 W6 D4 L3 GD +4) seem to suffer against Gamba, although, on current form they should be expecting it easier than in recent seasons! Marcio Richardes has finally come into form, while Genki Haraguchi is back to full fitness, so those two have to make up for the fact that Reds have not really have a real target man this season. Perhaps home form and the fact that it is perennial rivals Reds will swing it and make this a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA.