Kawasaki Frontale vs Gamba Osaka

Underperforming J1 League heavyweights Kawasaki Frontale entertain relegation-threatened Gamba Osaka at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium in a high-stakes showdown.

Kawasaki Frontale turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a 2-1 defeat away to Cerezo Osaka last time out, making it three competitive matches without winning (D1, L2). Indeed, these are tumultuous times for the reigning J1 League champions, as they’ve only won one of their last six league fixtures (D2, L3). Kawaski’s hopes of retaining the crown are hanging by a thread. They currently trail table-topping Yokohama Marinos by a whopping nine points, albeit they have a game in hand. Gamba’s forthcoming visit could be the only saving grace at this point, with Kawasaki winning all four previous home H2Hs by an aggregate score of 13-3.

Meanwhile, Gamba Osaka’s disheartening 1-0 loss away to Shonan Bellmare last time out has cast further doubt on their J1 League credentials. Having lost five of their previous seven league games (W1, D1), the visitors languish only two points clear of the dreaded relegation playoff spot. Not even the most die-hard Gamba fans believe in their side’s chances of beating Kawasaki here, especially after losing their last four league matches on hostile turf. Tomohiro Katanosaka’s men have found the away goals hard to come by this season, netting just 0.7 goals per J1 League travel on average thus far. It’s unsurprising then that they’ve won none of their seven away league fixtures in which they conceded first (D3, L4).