Gwangju vs Seoul

A place in the K League 1 playoffs is potentially on the cards as Gwangju and Seoul go head-to-head in a top-six six-pointer at Suwon Sports Complex. 

Keen to better last season’s 9th-place finish, Gwangju saw their work cut out in three previous league outings (D2, L1), leaving their pursuit of playoff qualification in the balance. Indeed, only two points separate Gwangju from upcoming rivals Seoul, suggesting now would be a perfect time for Lee Jung-hyo’s side to return to winning ways. However, that could prove easier said than done, considering they’ve dropped points in their last three home league games (D1, L2), with both defeats yielding an identical 1-0 scoreline. Often associated with scoring problems, Gwangju have netted an average of only 0.94 goals per league match this season, yet this could be their chance to turn the corner. Indeed, they’ve beaten Seoul in five consecutive H2Hs, bagging 2+ goals in the last four.

Meanwhile, Seoul’s decent run of six domestic fixtures without losing ended abruptly last time out (W3, D3) as Jeju United stunned them 3-1 on their home turf. An immediate return to the win column is imperative for the visitors if they’re to stay relevant in the playoff race, and hitting the road could be just what the doctor ordered. Kim Gi-dong’s charges have won their last three competitive away matches via single-goal margins, with two producing the same 1-0 final score. Indeed, they’ve been synonymous with low-scoring clashes this season, with none of their eight away league games featuring over 2.5 goals. An uneventful frontline is to blame, as they only scored four times in that dreadful sequence.