Gamba Osaka, one of Japan's most decorated football clubs, is making history in the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) final against Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr — a club that fields global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané.
The match kicked off late at night in Japan (local time in Riyadh) at King Saud University Stadium. Despite the inconvenient hour, Japanese fans tuned in en masse via DAZN, gathered at a live viewing event at Expo City Osaka, and roughly 150 supporters even flew to Riyadh to cheer in person.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when FW Deniz Humet (shirt number 23) fired Gamba Osaka into a 1-0 lead. The official club account's goal announcement post quickly surpassed 4,000 likes — remarkable for a late-night weekday match. Goalkeeper Araki produced a string of fine saves and defender Nakatani made a crucial goal-line block to keep the lead intact heading into halftime.
For Gamba Osaka supporters, this final carries deep significance. The club is chasing what fans are calling their '10th star' — a 10th major title in club history. Head coach Jens Wissing, who was controversially appointed without prior head-coaching experience, has guided the team to this stage in what many are calling an unlikely but inspiring run.
Takashi Usami, a fan favorite and former Bundesliga player, is listed as a super-sub and could play a decisive role in the second half.
What to watch next: The second half will determine whether Gamba Osaka can hold off Ronaldo and Mané to claim the ACL2 title. A win would mark a landmark moment for J.League clubs on the Asian stage and confirm Gamba Osaka as the continent's top club for the 2025-26 season.
