Preview: FC Seoul vs Daegu FC

It's Expat's Day at Seoul World Cup Stadium where FC Seoul will welcome Daegu FC. Seoul are without a win in four but are still just one point away from the top six. Daegu, meanwhile, head to the capital on the back of two straight victories. A win for the visitors would move them within a point of Seoul, a victory for Seoul could see Lee Eulyong's side jump to fifth. 
(image via K League)

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Gangwon FC 0-0 FC Seoul

Prior to the international break, FC Seoul endured somewhat of a week to forget. After being put to the sword by a rampant Ulsan Hyundai side, losing by four goals to one at the Munsu, Lee Eulyong's side then played out a forgettable 0-0 draw away to Gangwon FC. Only seven shots in the entire 90 minutes hit the target in a game which Seoul seemed to try and pass their opponents to death. Seoul made 474 passes to Gangwon's 270 but lacked that cutting edge. The capital club are now on a run of four games without victory having lost three on the spin prior to the 0-0 stalemate in Chuncheon.

Highlights: here

Daegu FC 4-2 Suwon Bluewings

Daegu, meanwhile, are on a decent run of form having won two on the bounce and three in their last five. Andre's side signed off before the international break with an impressive 4-2 home win over AFC Champions League quarter finalists Suwon Bluewings. A Kim Eunseon own goal gave Daegu the lead inside eight minutes before Lee Jongsung levelled just eight minutes later. Daegu soon regained their advantage, however, as Edgar fired home on 19 minutes before a Cesinha brace gave the Sky Blues a 4-1 lead with goals on 35 and 60 minutes. Yeom Kihun pulled one back in the 90th minute to halve the deficit for the Bluewings.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

The most recent meeting between these two teams ended in a 2-2 draw down in Daegu in July. In what was both teams' first match back after the World Cup break, during which FC Seoul surrendered a two-goal lead leave them just a point for the endeavours. Goals from Cho Youngwook and Anderson Lopes had Lee Eulyong's men two goals to the good inside the first 18 minutes but a first half fight back before the interval from Daegu ensured that the spoils were shared. Edgar pulled a goal back on 37 minutes before fellow Brazilian, Cesinha, converted from the spot on the stroke of half time.

Daegu's most recent visit to Sangam wasn't quite so fruitful for the North Gyeongsang outfit, though. Goals from former Daegu forward Evandro, Go Yohan, and an own goal by Kim Jinhyeok gave Seoul a 3-0 victory.  Daegu's last win at Sangam dates back to May 2011, a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Lee Sangdeok and Ahn Seongmin.

In total, FC Seoul and Daegu FC have met 33 times, Seoul have 16 victories to Daegu's eight, four of which have come at Sangam.

Team News

FC Seoul will have goalkeeper Yoon Sanghoon, defender Kim Namchoon, and striker Yun Jutae available again after the trio returned from military service with Sangju Sangmu. Central defender Hwang Hyunsoo will also be available after his participation the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. However, Shin Jinho is suspended after picking up his sixth booking of the season during the 0-0 draw with Gangwon, as is club captain Go Yohan.

For Daegu, Korean international goalkeeper, Cho Hyun-woo, was forced to pull out of Paulo Bento’s squad Korean National Team squad due to an unlucky injury he picked up on the Asian Games 2018. However, regardless of fitness, the Taeguk Warrior will be unavailable through suspension due to a red card picked up in Daegu's 2-0 home defeat to Ulsan on 22nd July.  What’s more, two other key players, Hong Jung-woon and Jung Woo-jae, are not able to feature here either because of yellow card accumulation. Elsewhere, Brazilian striker, Ze Roberto has returned to his native Brazil to receive treatment on his injury. According to the club's official channels, Ze Roberto injured his right calf and will be out until the end of the year.

Ko Seung-bum, on-loan from Suwon Bluewings, didn’t travel with the first team, but finally made an appearance in a reserve game. Even still, the 24-year-old midfielder isn't expected to feature come Sunday.

Daegu Team News by Muyeol Jung

The Adversary

During the international break, the first team travelled down to Namhae in the hope of repeating last year’s success - a run of form that resulted in Daegu finishing the season comfortably in eighth place. It is unclear yet as to what the team had been working on during this short, intensive training camp but with defensive absentees, Andre was perhaps using the time to practise tactical transition from a back three to back four as well as to maintain their physical conditioning.

Come Sunday, there will perhaps be some unfamiliar names amongst Andre's starting lineup. Between the sticks, Choi Young-eun will be positioned once again in the absence of Cho Hyun-woo. Due to limitations, Andre will likely play a back three that consists of Han Hee-hoon, Park Byung-hyun and either Kim Jin-hyuk or Kim Woo-suk. On each side, Kang Yun-ku and Jung Seung-won are likely to play with Tsubasa, Ryu Jae-moon as the central midfielders. Like the last game, Ryu Jae-moon will play a key role in this system, moving back and forth. Upfront, Cesinha, Edgar, and Kim Dae-won will form a spearhead to try to breakdown Seoul’s defence.

by Muyeol Jung

Who To Watch

Cesinha

With seven assists and four goals to his name in just 16 appearances this term, Brazilian winger Cesinha is undoubtedly one of Daegu's most important players. The Brazilian was a key component of Andre Gaspar's side that finished eighth in the league last year too, along side current FC Seoul forward Evandro and Junior Negao who departed for Ulsan during the winter.

Already this year Cesinha has shown that he is a danger to FC Seoul having notched the equalising penalty in the 2-2 draw back in July. This season Cesinha has made no fewer than 455 passes, 60 of which were considered as key - nine of those have come against Seoul this season.

Prediction

ACL hopes seem to be all-but over with the gap between Seoul and third place now as wide as 12 points but despite the poor run of form, Seoul are still only a point behind the top six. Lee Eulyong has had over two weeks to work with his players on the training ground to try and right the wrongs of the last four matches. FC Seoul fans will no doubt be expecting a reaction. Daegu, though, have shown that they are a team that fears no one and can boast of victories over Suwon Bluewings, Gangwon, and Jeju United this term.  Away from home, Andre's side have just two defeats in their last seven with four wins and a draw, and so will feel that a positive result at Sangam will be well within their grasp.

Prediction: FC Seoul 0-0 Daegu FC

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