In an away game against Kobe, Gamba had a tough time conceding the lead twice, but Usami and Nakatani each scored a goal, embodying Gamba's pride. "We've become a team that can't lose, a team that can withstand adversity," said Usami, expressing satisfaction with the team's growth. However, Gamba will be taking on the EMPEROR'S CUP's Cup round of 16, where they need only a win, with only three days to rest.
Gamba is in a position to follow the league leader Machida by six points, but the EMPEROR'S CUP is also an important tournament, as "if we become the champions, we will be able to participate in the ACL" (Poyatos Head Coach). Naturally, they will go to win against Shonan with a must-win attitude.

However, with a league match against Fukuoka at home scheduled just three days after the Shonan match, Head Coach Poyatos stated his intention to go all out, saying, "I have to make changes to the lineup taking into consideration the condition of the players."
Gamba had been winning comfortably up until the 3rd Leg by sending their main players to the backline, but with the match scheduled to run parallel to the league match, it looks like they will be fielding an all-out roster, including younger players.

They have one win and one loss against Shonan in the league this season. They faced them at Panasonic Stadium Suita on July 20th and suffered a disappointing 0-1 defeat, but Head Coach Poyatos has learned from that experience and is drawing up a plan to beat Shonan.
"Every system has its advantages and disadvantages. We have prepared well with ideas and we have other plans,"Head Coach.

Shonan, led by Head Coach Yamaguchi, has both center backs involved in the attack and creates a numerical advantage on the sides, but with Gamba using a four-back formation, the key will be how they can make up for the poor cohesion in their system.
Nakano, who has been receiving stimulation and feedback from training with Ajax, is also one of the players waiting for his turn in the EMPEROR'S CUP, but he said, "We can be outnumbered in the system. I want to communicate with the CB and wing players, and I've been able to organize things."

On the other hand, goals are essential for Gamba to win, and it is Sakamoto who should lead the front line. In the match against Kobe, he took the shot that led to Nakatani's equalizer, but recently Sakamoto has been most conscious of his play being involved in the finish. He is also expected to play as a first defender, but he intends to approach the Shonan goal, saying, "It's important for me not only to receive the ball at my feet, but also to get behind the defense."

Shonan lost 1-2 to Kashiwa in the league in the previous round and dropped to 17th place. As they have only 2nd year of junior high school days to play against Nagoya, and Shonan has played in the EMPEROR'S CUP so far with a turnover of players, they are likely to make some changes to their members, just like Gamba.
However, there is a possibility that former Gamba players Abe, Onose, Okuno and others who took to the pitch in the second half of the Kashiwa match, as well as Fukuda and others, will also play, so attention must be paid to their individual strengths.

Gamba has a busy schedule with the EMPEROR'S CUP in mind, as well as the EMPEROR'S CUP matches, and is aiming to reach the top, but Sakamoto said, "Right now we're not winning as a team, so we just want to win."
If they can secure a spot in the top eight in the EMPEROR'S CUP, it will naturally give them momentum in the league matches.
We will go all out to beat Shonan with the help of everyone, from young players to veterans.