Seoul vs Gimcheon Sangmu

Seoul World Cup Stadium forms the backdrop for a high-stakes K League 1 showdown between Seoul and Gimcheon Sangmu.

Seoul’s rough patch in the top flight extended beyond the K League 1 borders as Pohang Steelers hammered them 5-1 in midweek Korean Cup action, inflicting a third defeat in four matches on Kim Gi-dong’s team (W1). A lack of consistency has seen Seoul alternate between victories (2) and losses (2) across their last four league outings, throwing their playoff hopes into doubt. Stuck in the final playoff spot, the hosts hold a slim one-point lead on 7th-placed Jeju United. However, Seoul can draw courage from their imperious three-game winning home league streak, even though their overall K League 1 home record this season remains evenly balanced (W5, D1, L5). Adding to Seoul’s confidence, they’re unbeaten in their last three home league meetings with Gimcheon (W1, D2).

In the meantime, K League 1 leaders Gimcheon Sangmu halted a two-game winless league run (D1, L1) with an emphatic 4-0 home triumph against Jeonbuk Motors last time out, leapfrogging reigning holders Ulsan Hyundai to the table’s summit. Though Gimcheon’s single-point lead looks fragile, they do have a game in hand. Chung Jung-yong’s men have excelled at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, racking up an eye-catching 83% unbeaten ratio in home league games this term (W8, D2, L2). Yet, they’ve been out of sorts on the road, picking up just four wins across their 11 top-flight travels (W4, D5, L2). Moreover, they’ve gone winless in six of their last seven away league matches (D5, L1).