When Gamba Osaka takes to the field for the Emperor's Cup final on New Year's Day, fatigue could prove to be just as deadly an opponent as Kashiwa Reysol.
This past year has been an eventful one for Gamba, but it has also taken a mental and physical toll on a team that began its season with the Pan-Pacific Championship in Honolulu back in February.
Since then Akira Nishino's men have played a full J. League season, competed in the latter stages of the Nabisco Cup, won the Asian Champions League and finished third at the Club World Cup in December.