Gamba Osaka's coach highly praised Nam Dinh ahead of the rematch.

Despite winning 3-1 in the first leg, coach Daniel Poyatos affirmed that Gamba Osaka will approach the return match cautiously, acknowledging Nam Dinh's strength and the danger they pose when in possession. The AFC Champions League 2 match will take place at 7:15 PM on November 5th at Thien Truong Stadium.

Context: First leg 3-1, second leg under pressure at Thien Truong Stadium.

In the first leg, Nam Dinh lost 1-3 away to Gamba Osaka. Returning to Thien Truong Stadium, the Vietnamese representatives aimed for a better performance, while the Japanese team maintained their goal of winning but emphasized respect for their opponent.

Poyatos cautioned: "Nam Dinh are dangerous when they have the ball."

At the press conference on the afternoon of November 4th, coach Daniel Poyatos emphasized: “We understand that we will be facing a very experienced team. In the first leg, despite winning, Nam Dinh still showed their danger when in possession. Gamba Osaka is a team with a long tradition, and we always aim to win every match.”

The message from coach Gamba Osaka was clear: don't be complacent after the favorable result, control the risks against Nam Dinh's attacking capabilities, especially during moments when the home team is in possession and building up play.

Okunuki talks about adapting to the weather and the intensity of competition.

Kanji Okunuki affirmed the visiting team's preparation: "This is an important match, and I will play with 100% effort. The weather and conditions in Vietnam are different, but we are adapting well and will try to perform at our best."

Weather conditions and playing environment are variables that Gamba Osaka is paying attention to. Quick adaptation could help the visiting team maintain their pace and minimize errors during crucial stages.

Nam Dinh adjusts its strategy, taking advantage of home field advantage.

On the home side, assistant coach Andre Lima said the team had learned many lessons from the first leg and made the necessary adjustments: this will be a challenging match against a strong opponent and a strong contender for a place in the next round in the group.

He emphasized that Nam Dinh had prepared thoroughly throughout the past week: “We know Gamba Osaka is a strong team, but Nam Dinh has trained hard and enthusiastically and will try our best to have a good match. Although the team has faced difficulties in terms of personnel recently due to injuries and illnesses, in the AFC Champions League, we can use more foreign players. I believe the team will have a stable squad and take advantage of home field advantage to aim for a positive result.”

The advantage of Thien Truong Stadium — a familiar pitch and local climate — serves as a foundation for Nam Dinh to boost morale and optimize the tactical adjustments they have prepared.

Highlights before kick-off

• First leg result: Gamba Osaka 3-1 Nam Dinh.
• Gamba Osaka is cautious, respects their opponent, and aims for victory.
• Okunuki affirmed that the entire team has adapted to the playing conditions in Vietnam.
• Nam Dinh has adjusted its plan, hoping to capitalize on the advantages of playing at Thien Truong Stadium.

Match information

Nam Định vs Gamba Osaka – 7:15 PM, November 5th, Thien Truong Stadium, AFC Champions League 2.