🏏 Fri, 7 Aug 2026 19:30 JST
Gamba Osaka
vs
Urawa
4-2-3-1 vs 4-3-3
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- The opening round of a J1 season that has moved to an autumn-spring calendar, and both Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds start 4-2-3-1. The double pivots and the three inside players match up directly: Gamba pair Rin Mifuji with Shuto Abe, while Urawa's two include Kaito Yasui. Who gets into the space beside those pivots first will set the tone.
- There are 22 years between the two goalkeepers. Gamba's goal belongs to 18-year-old Rui Araki, an academy product who signed professional terms at 17 and was first choice at the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, winning the tournament's best goalkeeper award as his side retained the title. Urawa have 40-year-old Shusaku Nishikawa, with more than 600 J1 appearances behind him.
- Haruumi Nanno moved from Gamba Osaka to Urawa Reds this summer and begins the opener on the bench. If he comes on, he faces his former club straight away. Urawa also have Ado Onaiwu and Shunpei Hayakawa in reserve, so they can change the whole shape of their front line when the game demands it.
- Gamba's left-back Ryo Hatsuse is an academy graduate. The 29-year-old helped Vissel Kobe to a J1 title and spent time abroad with Sheffield Wednesday; naturally right-footed, he trained his left because he idolised Shunsuke Nakamura. He can deliver crosses and set pieces with either foot, so his delivery will pull the Urawa defence around repeatedly.
- Urawa's left-back Kotaro Hayashi arrived from FC Machida Zelvia this summer. Beyond the stamina to run for ninety minutes, his main weapon is a long throw with the range of a set piece, dropping throw-ins straight into the Gamba box. Opposite him is Takeru Kishimoto, Gamba's right-back and an explosive runner down that flank.
- Gamba's front line is built on height and experience. Denis Hümmet, 189cm, is a 29-year-old born in Sweden with Turkey caps, strong in the air and holding the ball up. Issam Jebali, 34, has played for Tunisia and was once named player of the month in the Danish Superliga. The two line up one behind the other.
- Urawa's attack runs through Matheus Savio and Ryoma Watanabe. Savio, 29, was the focal point at Kashiwa Reysol and creates with a delicate touch and through balls. On the right, Takuro Kaneko was called one of the J.League's finest dribblers at Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and after spells in Croatia and Belgium he joined the club of his native Saitama, cutting inside off his left foot.
- Gamba's centre-back pairing is eight years apart. Shinnosuke Nakatani, 30, came through Kashiwa Reysol's academy, moved on via Nagoya Grampus and was named in the league's best eleven in his first season here. Ginshiro Iketani, 22, was MVP of the Kanto university league at Tsukuba and turned professional a year early; he is 183cm and 82kg. Urawa answer with Brazilian Danilo Boza in the air.