Club GM Shiro Kuwahara told an AFC seminar this week that the club's Expo 70 stadium was "...old and small with the pitch far from the stands.

"My dream is to have a football stadium for our club on English (Premier League) lines where fans are able to watch the game and the players up-close.

"The cost of building is very high in Japan but we have managed to secure half of the budget.

"To have our own new football stadium is crucial as we move into a new era."

Similarly, ACL finalists Adelaide is currently embroiled in their own stadium issue – an issue that's been magnified by Australia's bid for the 2018 World Cup and the FFA's insistence that Adelaide would miss out if a suitable stadium was not built.

Adelaide's boutique Hindmarsh stadium – capacity 18,000 – hinders the club's ability to generate revenue from bigger matches such as ACL games and A-League finals matches. It's a scenario Osaka knows too well.

"We are handicapped here as our stadium can take in only 21,000 fans," said Kuwahara.

Osaka's rivals Urawa Red Diamonds have no such problems, as he explained: "Compared to our revenue, Urawa's earnings are huge because of their big fan base and massive stadium which allows them to fix their ticket prices at a higher level.

"We derive just 2100 yen (approx US$20) from each fan for Gamba while Urawa get 3000 yen (US$29)."

That said, Gamba Osaka has been well run over the last ten years reducing debt since 1999 and turning the club into a profit by 2005.

A win over the Reds of Australia would surely benefit the club's push for a new ground.

"Last night I dreamt that our team had won the title against Adelaide United 3-1," said Kuwahara.