The Osaka Derby is always one of the best fixtures of the J.League season and this year the rivalry match takes on even greater importance with Cerezo Osaka looking poised to battle for the title.

The Sakura would love nothing more than to reign supreme in their city and conquer the country, while Gamba Osaka would relish the chance to upset those plans. This makes for must-watch viewing on Monday at 13:05 JST live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.

Cerezo have topped the table on two different occasions this season and currently sit in third place, just two points off of first. They are among the title favorites as they chase their first top flight title in the J.League era.

Leading the Sakura’s charge is red hot Brazilian striker Léo Ceará, who has taken his play to new heights with seven goals in Cerezo’s last six matches. The pink side of Osaka is hardly short of attacking talent, with seven other players in the goals and eight with assists.

That isn’t true across town, where Gamba only have as many goals this season as Léo Ceará has all on his own. Isa Sakamoto gives them a reason for optimism, though, as the 20-year-old #NextGenJLeague talent has scored three goals in the last four matches to jumpstart the attack and position himself as one of the league’s brighter prospects.

Whether Sakamoto can pierce Cerezo or not, the real key for Gamba will be on the other end where a strong defense will face their toughest challenge of the season. Shota Fukuoka has raised his level and the addition of Shinnosuke Nakatani has created a good centerback pairing that has turned one of the league’s worst defensive teams a year ago into one that ranks in the top half of the league.

Gamba will have the advantage of a rabid home crowd behind them. Panasonic Stadium Suita is always a cauldron for the Osaka Derby and that will be ratcheted up by the prospect of upending a title-contending Cerezo team and pushing up into the top half of the J1 table.

So, will Osaka be draped in pink? Or will it turn black and blue?

Find out when two of the J.League’s fiercest rivals clash in this epic worldwide broadcast.