Nagoya Grampus – Tulio is suspended. FW Nagai is back from the Olympics., while FWs Kennedy and Tamada are both expected to be out but will be tested for fitness. MF Isomura out for at least a month more.

Gamba Osaka – RBs Kaji AND Eduardo both re-injured themselves and will be out. GK Kimura and DF Nakazawa are both out with broken legs. FW Kawanishi still regaining match fitness after a broken leg – not ready.

Very even over the last decade with 8 wins for Nagoya, 7 for Gamba, and 4 draws.

Gamba have won one and drawn two of their last three games – three games where a mini-revival has begun. They are now within a win of leap-frogging both Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata – depending on their results, of course – and KNOW they have to keep racking up the points to reach safety. Nagoya have conceded 7 goals to S-Pulse in their last two games – J1 and Nabisco Cup – and lost both. Before that, they beat Vissel 5-1 with four goals coming from Tulio. With Tulio suspended today, the team will be hoping that Kensuke Nagai – fresh from his Olympic performances – will be fit and ready to play, since Tamada and Kennedy are both still very doubtful. Nagai thrives on being set up by players around him – will Nagoya have anyone to partner him up front?
Gamba Osaka are missing a goalkeeper and at least three defenders through injury but it is the forward line that they will be concentrating on anyway, if they are to win games, they need goals. Leandro has returned, and is scoring goals and Gamba will be confident on their unbeaten run – this is a game that they MUST get at least a draw from, but they will be hoping for a win and I think we can EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!