K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.
Double game weeks are not for the faint-hearted. The likes of Gimcheon Sangmu, Jeju United, Pohanfg Steelers and FC Seoul will be looking to bounce back from mid-week losses while Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan Hyundai, Suwon Bluewings, Incheon United and Gangwon FC will be looking to build.
Goals might come at a premium this Saturday, though, as only Gangwon have a worse shooting accuracy percentage than Seongnam with 31.1%, while Seoul sit fourth from bottom in that regard at 33.1%. How each team tries to score will differ, though, as Seongnam have the best crossing accuracy in K League 1 while Seoul have made the most passes and are third for touches in the box. The first meeting between FC Seoul and Seongnam FC ended 0-0 but was a game which saw Seoul have 72% possession. But from 13 attempts on goal, none made the target - seven were blocked and six were struck wide. Na Sang-ho's is Seoul's sharpest shooter, sitting seventh in K League 1 in that regard. Fejsal Mulić is Seongnam's in 16th. Both have scored in this fixture. But FC Seoul's recent record over Seongnam makes for positive reading with just one loss in six and two in 11. A win this Saturday would keep the capital club in the top six while a win for Seongnam will be seen as crucial if Kim Nam-il's men are to move off the foot of the table before it's too late.
As a team, Pohang have the best shooting accuracy in K League 1 with 40% of shots finding the target. Interestingly, visitors to the Steel Yard this Saturday, Incheon, have the second-best shooting accuracy at 37.7% and Mugoša is third in that regard at 53.33%. Both Pohang and Incheon are going to need to keep up that high level of shooting accuracy too because this fixture is usually settled by one goal. Three of the last six meetings have been draws while Pohang have picked up two one-goal wins, Incheon one. The first meeting of 2022 ended 1-0 to the Steelers thanks to a Lim Sang-hyub strike late in the first half. Last term, there were two draws and a win for each side.
Ulsan lead the way in the table and are second in K League 1 in terms of touches in the penalty area with 247. It is then perhaps of little surprise to know that Ulsan have made the most deep completions - i.e. a non-cross pass that is targeted to the zone within 20 meters of the opponent's goal. Army team Gimcheon have made the most blocks, Ulsan the least. Gimcheon are second for shots made outside the penalty area with 70. Ulsan are second for crosses made per 90 while their winter acquisition from Gwangju, Um Won-sang, has the best shooting accuracy in K League 1 at present at 60.87%; his colleague Leonardo is second with 57.69%. With title rivals Jeonbuk and second place Jeju not playing until Sunday, a win for the Horangi could stretch their lead at the top to 11 points.
Meanwhile, three goals in his last three matches has moved Cesinha up to five for the season. The Brazilian is now Daegu's joint-top scorer with Go Jae-hyeon. Gangwon's top scorer also has five to his name this season, Kim Dae-won, who was a Daegu player up until last year. Under new boss Gama, Daegu have become a bit more direct in terms of their approach and have made the highest number of long passes in the division. However, in terms of accuracy, the Sky Blues slip to 10th. Gangwon, on the other hand, have proven to be good in the air and sit fourth in K League 1 for aerial duel success rate. Neither manager has had the tendency to make sweeping changes mid-match with Choi Yong-soo making the second-least amount of subs so far this term with 44 and Gama third-least at 47. The first meeting of 2022 ended in a 2-0 Gangwon win. Last year, from three league meetings and one in the FA Cup, both teams recorded two wins each.
Jeju have made the most touches in the box so far this season with 260, 18.59 per 90. Nam Ki-il's men have been known to get crosses into the box too and have made the most per 90. Most of which have come from their right-hand side. Jeju are not afraid to shoot on sight of goal either and have dispatched the most shots from outside the area with 76. For Suwon, the Bluewings have had to be patient having made the fewest touches in the box so far this season. But attacking midfielder Kang Hyun-muk will be seen as someone who can fashion chances for his side. The 21-year-old has made three assists so far this season to sit joint-second in the player rankings in that regard. His third of the campaign came in midweek, sliding the ball over to Lee Ki-je who broke the deadlock against Gimcheon. The first meeting between these two sides ended 1-0 to Jeju, last season Jeju picked up two wins, Suwon one, and one draw.
Suwon FC are the most fouled team in K League 1, Jeonbuk the least. Jeonbuk have also been caught offside the most while Suwon the least amount of times. Jeonbuk have the third-best shooting accuracy in the division with 37.7% of shots finding the target but fourth fewest from outside the area. Suwon have actually made the fourth-highest number of shots from outside the area. The first meeting of 2022 ended 1-0 to Jeonbuk, Song Min-kyu with the game's only goal. Last season, though, Suwon picked up two wins over Jeonbuk and two draws.
[READ: Suwon FC vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Full Preview]
FC Seoul versus Seongnam FC and Suwon FC versus Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are the two matches picked for overseas broadcasting. Details can be found here.
However, all matches are available on K League TV for FREE and in HD.