It is all but certain that the 2011 J. League champion will come from the four-team breakaway group that has formed at the top of the table, but with a quarter of the season still to play, that is about as clear as the picture gets.

Gamba Osaka opened up a three-point gap over second- and third-place Yokohama F. Marinos and Kashiwa Reysol at the weekend, with defending champions Nagoya Grampus a point behind in fourth. There was a sense of ominous foreboding around the league when Grampus went top for the first time this season last month, but defeats to Vegalta Sendai and Reysol have dented their challenge while rivals have taken advantage.

For a team so wildly prone to defensive errors, Gamba have charted a remarkably steady path since taking over from Grampus in first place. The 2005 champions had kept only two clean sheets in 22 matches before going top on Aug. 20, but they have not conceded a single goal in their three outings since and seem to be getting their act together at just the right time.