Busan IPark Vs Daejeon Citizen: Preview

Busan IPark Vs Daejeon Citizen

Sunday 26^th July 2015 19:00 kick off K League Classic

Form

Busan IPark: LLLLLD
Daejeon Citizen: DLLLLL

New Brazilian Wanderson. Photo credit: DCFC.co.kr

It had been suggested that some of Daejeon’s games with fellow strugglers were considered as ‘ought to win’ rather than victory being an absolute must.

However, Sunday’s relegation six-pointer with 11^th placed Busan is indeed that – an absolute must-win game.

If the citizen-owned club still harbour any hopes of avoiding the drop then three points down at Asiad Stadium this Sunday is exactly what is required.

It was reported this week that Busan parted ways with their manager after Coach Yoon Seung-hyo decided to step down following the club’s poor run of form.

Brazilian assistant manager Dennis will take over on an interim basis and could spark a new manager bounce effect and could be seen as bad-timing in the eyes of those connected to Daejeon Citizen.

Accordingly, a defeat would be sheer disaster and would leave the Purples too far cut adrift and circling the drain.

Currently Daejeon remain rooted to the foot of the table, nine points behind Sunday’s opponents having yet to amount a double figure points tally.

A win, however, would close the gap to a manageable six points.

Previous Meetings

The fixture sees a repeat of the opening day where Daejeon fell to a narrow defeat to the south coast side.

With the help of the woodwork Daejeon were able to keep the score to just 1-0.

Brazilian forward Wessley scored a late winner for the home side after coming on as a second half substitute.

The reverse fixture in June saw the Purples up their points tally by one thanks to a 0-0 stalemate.

During Daejeon’s last relegation-threatened campaign in 2013, Citizen were able to avoid defeat on both the occasions these two sides met.

A 1-1 draw at Asiad Stadium in April 2013, where Kim Byung-suk and Rodrigo Da Costa were on target for Daejeon and Busan respectively, was proceeded by a goalless draw at Purple Arena three months later.

Daejeon fans will have to cast their minds’ back to 2010 to remember their side’s last victory over Busan, though.

On 11^th September 2010 goals from Fabio Lopes and Ou Kyoung-jun gave Citizen a two goal win.

Team News

There had been plenty of speculation but it seems that things have come to a head with regards to the future of Brazilian striker Adriano.

Last season’s top goal scorer is on the brink of a move to FC Seoul after seemingly falling out of favour with new Daejeon Coach Choi Moon-sik.

Thus, it is likely that Citizen will have a different Brazilian in attack come Sunday evening.

Along with Wanderson who netted two on his debut, the Daejeon number 77 could be joined by Rafinha who met up with his new teammates during the break.

Meanwhile, Hwang In-beom is likely to be out for the remainder of the season having recently had surgery on a fracture he picked up versus Jeonnam earlier in the month.