The home side will be looking to build on the 1-0 away win over Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League last weekend. Riku Handa’s 70th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Montedio, meanwhile, fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Chiba in the J2 League. Koji Toriumi’s 81st-minute strike settled the contest.

The Tendo outfit will shift their attention to the Cup and booked their spot at this stage with a 2-1 home win over Kogoshima United in the last round. Gamba qualified with a 2-1 comeback home win over Veertien Mie.

• Gamba Osaka have won nine of the last 12 head-to-head games. Montedio were victorious once while two games ended in stalemates.
• This will be the first meeting between the two sides in a decade. Their last clash came in November 2015 when Gamba claimed a 4-0 home win in the J1 League.
• Seven of the last eight head-to-head games have produced three goals or more.
• Six of Montedio’s last eight games across competitions have been decided by a one-goal margin.
• Four of Gamba’s last six competitive games have seen one side fail to find the back of the net.
• Seven of Montedio’s last eight games have produced three goals or more, with six games in this sequence witnessing goals at both ends.

Gamba Osaka vs Montedio Prediction

Gamba Osaka are firmly in mid-table in the J1 League and have a relatively comfortable cushion over the relegation zone. They were losing finalists in the Cup last season and will be hoping to go one better this time around.

Montedio have alternated between a win and loss in their last seven games. Fans of the club will be hoping this trend continues, having lost their most recent game. However, they have struggled in this fixture.

We are backing the hosts to claim a comfortable win with goals at both ends.

Prediction: Gamba Osaka 3-1 Montedio

Gamba Osaka vs Montedio Betting Tips

Tip 1 – Gamba Osaka to win

Tip 2 – Both teams to score

Tip 3 – Over 2.5 goals

Tip 4 – Gamba to score in both halves

Vissel outclassed J3 League side Kochi to clinch a 4-1 win when the sides met in the second round of the domestic cup and have continued in like fashion since, with eight wins and a draw in their subsequent 10 games. The Cows are just a point off the top of the J1 League and remain strong favorites to win this season’s Emperor’s Cup after having a remarkable campaign last year.

Ventforet are in similarly impressive form in the J2 League and have only lost one of their last 11 games across all competitions after a mediocre start to the season. The visitors earned qualification to the third round by defeating Regional League side Fukui United 2-1 last time out but face a much more difficult challenge as they go against the defending champions on Wednesday.

Vissel Kobe vs Ventforet Kofu Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The teams have met in 15 previous editions going into this weekend’s meeting. Vissel Kobe have won nine of those meetings, while one has ended in a draw and Ventforet Kofu have won the remaining five.
• The hosts have won four of the last five editions of this fixture, scoring an impressive 12 goals across those games.
• Ventforet have only failed to get on the scoresheet in two of their last 10 meetings with Vissel Kobe.
• Vissel won the Emperor’s Cup in 2019 and in 2024 while the visitors have won the domestic cup once, in 2022.
• The visitors have the third-best defensive record in the Japanese second division with only 20 goals conceded so far.

Vissel Kobe vs Ventforet Kofu Prediction

Ushi are favorites going into this cup tie courtesy of their home advantage, overall quality and impressive record in the cup. The hosts will, however, have to avoid complacency to avoid any form of surprise.

Ventforet will be keen to cause an upset and will be hopeful to force a draw and leave the game to be decided on penalties but could ultimately fall short.

Prediction: Vissel Kobe 2-1 Ventforet Kofu

Vissel Kobe vs Ventforet Kofu Betting Tips

Tip 1 – Result: Vissel Kobe to win

Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals (Eight of the hosts’ last 10 games have featured more than 2.5 goals)

Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes (Both teams have gotten on the scoresheet in seven of the hosts’ last 10 games)