A Friday night game against Gamba Osaka as we look to restart our push for victory.
Competitive matches resume after a two-and-a-half-week break. We return to Mercari Stadium to host Gamba Osaka for Matchweek 9 of the 2026/27 Meiji Yasuda J1 League.
With the international match week that spanned late September to early October now concluded, our players have returned from their respective national teams. With the full squad together again, our campaign as Kashima Antlers restarts from here.
This match against Gamba Osaka is a crucial opening to a grueling stretch of 11 consecutive matches, with only two or three days of rest between each. To navigate a relentless schedule that includes the J1 League, the AFC Champions League, and the Levain Cup in November, gaining momentum in this opening game is absolutely essential.
Our recent history with Gamba Osaka has been defined by fierce battles on the pitch, with each of the last five meetings decided by a one-goal margin. As both sides are formidable teams competing in the AFC Champions League, this is a match that we, as Kashima Antlers, must win at home.
Looking at the league table, we finished September winless in four matches (one draw, three losses), and in our last outing against Kawasaki Frontale, we let victory slip away after being pegged back late in the game. For the team right now, this first match back from the break serves as a litmus test to break our poor run and start building momentum once again.
It’s a Friday night game on October 9th. Having overcome a difficult September, this is an important match to make a fresh start toward victory. Let’s unite our spirits with the players on the pitch and embody our "total battle" at the stadium to secure all 3 points.
