J. League News Update 10/24

 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.

Reysol and Marinos refuse to drop out of the title picture, and both continue to offer contrasting examples of how to mount a surprise championship challenge. Reysol's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Grampus on Saturday was typical of the Chiba side's tenacious attacking spirit, while Marinos' tight 1-0 triumph over Avispa Fukuoka was their 11th victory by a single-goal margin.

With all four teams still firmly in the championship mix, then, the destination of this year's title could well come down to who blinks first. With Marinos taking on Gamba, and Grampus visiting in-form Kashima Antlers this Sunday, something has to give.- b y http://www.japantimes.co.j

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