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K League 1 returns after a three-week break with some massive fixtures including Ulsan Hyundai versus Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the second Super Match of 2022 both coming up on Sunday. There's Friday night football, too, with two matches to look forward to - Gimcheon Sangmu versus Suwon FC and Pohang Steelers versus Gangwon FC. Then, on Saturday, Jeju United host Incheon United and Daegu FC travel to Seongnam FC.
The first meeting of 2022 was something of a five-goal thriller with Suwon coming out on top in a 3-2 win. Goals from Lars Veldwijk and Kim Hyun had Suwon two goals to the good heading into half time but a Cho Gue-sung spot-kick halved the deficit. Lee Seung-woo made it 3-1 five minutes later before Yoo In-soo made it 3-2 on 65 minutes in what began to look like a Gimcheon fightback. The army team are third in K League 1 for shots dispatched per 90 at 11.21 and fourth for accuracy at 36%. Suwon, meanwhile, will be looking to their top scorer from last season Lars Veldwijk who has taken the team's most shots per 90 at 2.75, enough to sit 8th in K League 1 in that regard.
The spoils were shared when the two met earlier in the campaign. Heo Yong-jun gave Pohang a 50th-minute lead before hosts Gangwon levelled on 74 through winger Yang Hyun-jun. Pohang will be looking to create from left-back area with Sim Sang-min fifth in K League 1 for key passes. Gangwon, meanwhile, will be looking to right wing-back Kang Jo-hun who is fifth in the league for passes to final third accuracy at 83%. The match has been selected for overseas broadcasting, check local listings for further details.
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Manager Jo, of course, spent just under five seasons with Jeju United as manager, even guiding them to K League runners-up in 2017. Since taking over at Incheon, Jo has faced his former employers four times, winning just once - a 4-1 away victory in July 2021 - drawing once and losing twice. If Incheon are to get a result on the island then they're going to have to contend with a Jeju side which has dispatched the second-most shots this term.
When the two sides met earlier in the current campaign Daegu came from behind to earn a 3-1 win. Jeon Seong-su had given Seongnam at 1-0 lead five minutes in only for Edgar to level on 22. Go Jae-hyun made it 2-1 two minutes after the restart before Bruno Lamas put further daylight between the two teams with a goal on 64 minutes. A repeat of which would put Daegu hot on the heels of the Steelers in fifth. Seongnam, meanwhile, will be looking to close the gap at the bottom.
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Before the international break, Ulsan were on a run of three straight wins and were unbeaten in five. Jeonbuk, on the other hand, headed into the break on the back of a home loss to Jeju United and so will be keen to get back to winning ways. But it was Ulsan who won the first meeting between the two sides this season - 1-0 courtesy of a 40th-minute Leonardo strike. Ulsan are the league's top scorers with 25 and also have the best defence with just 10 goals conceded. Jeonbuk, though, have had the most headed attempts on goal in the division with 32 and so could look to make the most of their aerial threat of Gustavo or Stanislav Iljutcenko.
This Sunday's clash will be the 97th K League Super Match. FC Seoul have the historical advantage with 38 wins compared to Suwon's 34 and 24 draws. Over the last 10 meetings, Seoul have six wins, Suwon two and two draws. FC Seoul have dispatched the most shots in the division but slip to second-bottom in terms of accuracy. Most of Seoul's attempts on goal have come from open play - the most in the division - whereas the Bluewings sit bottom in this regard. However, Suwon goalkeeper Yang Hyung-mo sits fourth in K League 1 for saves made and sits top for prevented goals at 4.53.
Follow all the action on K League TV or check local listings for games broadcasted on television. More information can be found here.
