K League 1 Preview: Pohang Distracted by Midweek Cup Match, When Will Bottom-Placed Jeonbuk Bounce Back?

On August 17th at 18:00, the 27th round of K League 1, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors host Pohang Steelers at home.

The home team, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, lost their last match against Gwangju FC, suffering two consecutive losses recently, with only one win in their last four matches. The joy of defeating their rivals Ulsan Hyundai in the “Hyundai Derby” has long dissipated. As a top K League team, Jeonbuk Hyundai is currently at the bottom of the league, leaving fans extremely disappointed. After the last match, head coach Kim Dou-hyeon had to use a megaphone to walk under the stands and calm the angry fans, but the atmosphere was not harmonious.

The team went on a frantic recruitment drive during the summer window, bringing in several players who could immediately enhance the quality of the squad, including Andriy, Lee Seung-yu, Hanguk Young, Kim Jin-gyu, Yeom Ji-yun, and Kim Jun-hong, all coveted targets of various teams. However, what fans criticize most is the tactical completeness of the team. Despite having good paper strength, both the match results and content have left fans unsatisfied.

In terms of injuries, the long-term injured Kwon Chang-hoon has finally returned to normal training and participated in practice matches recently, but his comeback will take some time. Lee Seung-yu suffered an injury in the last game but it is not serious, with a 70% chance of playing in this match.

The away team, Pohang Steelers, also lost their last match against FC Seoul, suffering two consecutive losses as well, dropping from the top spot to fourth place in the league table.

The first leg of the Korean FA Cup semi-final will be held on the 21st, where Pohang Steelers will travel to Jeju Island to face Jeju United away. Continuous away matches are a test for Pohang, who have many veterans, and they will inevitably be distracted by the midweek cup match.

This season, the team’s attacking line has consistently performed well, with Lee Ho-jai continuously contributing, and offensive players such as Jung Jae-hee and Baek Sung-dong also showing a strong presence. However, the team’s offensive power has not been as strong as in the early stages of the season, with scoring efficiency decreasing.

In terms of injuries, central defender Lee Dong-hee unfortunately got injured during recent training and is expected to miss this match. Midfielders Han Jan-hee and Park Jong-woo have both returned and participated in recent matches, providing significant reinforcement to the team’s midfield depth.

>>Click here for more predictions and solutions for this match>>>