Suwon Bluewings vs Suwon FC

Suwon World Cup Stadium forms the backdrop for the latest installment of a fierce cross-town K League 1 rivalry between Suwon Bluewings and Suwon FC.

After only amassing two wins in the opening 22 league matches (D6, L14), resurgent Suwon Bluewings have turned the corner, racking up back-to-back victories for the first time this season to escape from the bottom. A quick-fire start has proved a winning recipe for the ‘Tricolor,’ as they scored a first-half opener in both wins. However, Kim Byung-soo’s men tend to roll over after a sluggish start, losing all seven home league games in which they’ve conceded the opening goal this season. Keen to avenge a brace of 2-1 H2H defeats, they will rely on a better start. But Bluewings fans may want to contain their optimism as the hosts have only netted four first-half goals in 12 top-flight home fixtures this term.

On the other hand, Suwon’s effort to make a late K League 1 playoff push is seemingly dead in the water after a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Gwangju last time out condemned them to an eighth consecutive league match without winning (D2, L6). Having lost their last three top-flight games by a combined score of 9-2, the visitors would be correct to doubt their chances of reinforcing their positive all-time H2H record on Bluewings soil (W4, L3). Five of their last six such contests have produced over 2.5 goals, suggesting the neutrals could be in for a treat. Prone to slow away starts, Kim Do-kyun’s men have conceded first on nine of their 11 league travels this term, rescuing just a single point.