Gamba Osaka – GK Kimura, DF Nakazawa are out with broken legs. FW Kawanishi is working hard to return from a broken leg but not yet match fit. RBs Kaji and Eduardo both injured!
Consadole Sapporo – FW Sakaki joins a long injury list.
Head to Head – Gamba won 4-0 away earlier this season and in 2008 there was a draw and another Gamba victory. That’s all between these two.
Gamba Osaka are on a roll, at last, and are entertaining the bottom team on the back of a 5-0 away thrashing of 2010 Champions Nagoya Grampus, so will be expecting another high-scoring win to take them out of the relegation zone and improve their goal difference. Two wins and two draws in the last four games have seen them come within touching distance of that safe 15th spot, although they will be setting their sights on a much higher position if they can win this one. The return of ace Leandro has kick-started the team into action, Konno scored his first goal for the club last week, Paulinho is a decent back-up player who is scoring goals and Sato sees himself high up in the scoring charts. Amazingly, even in such a lowly position, only three teams in J1 have scored ore goals this season!
Consadole Sapporo have been hit by numerous injuries over the season but seemed to be destined for an immediate return to J2 from the start of the season. They have now conceded 52 goals in their 22 games – scoring just 17 in the process – and bringing in the likes of Tele and Ramon does not seem to be the answer – they have certainly not proved themselves to be J1 players, although, being completely honest, the team are probably already rebuilding for a season in J2 in 2013! Forwards Kondo and Maeda seem set to return from injuries, but will they be given a place over the Brazilian imports? The last four games have seen two wins for Consadole – over Vegalta and Grampus – but the fans have probably accepted that the team are headed for J2 – perhaps this is the only change they have – playing without pressure because they know they are doomed already!?
EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!
