Can Gangwon take advantage of their game in hand against Gwangju?

After a thrilling 2-2 draw against Jeju saw the best and worst of Gangwon show up, the Bears will be looking to accentuate the positives to score a significant win against Gwangju on Sunday. The visitors sit comfortably at the bottom of the league, so now is as good a time as ever for the victory to come.

Recent Form

Gangwon are in typically mixed form, with two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five. However, the Bears are having something of a breakthrough in recent weeks, with improved performances allowing them to - at least temporarily - escape the promotion/relegation playoff position. Now, capitalising on important wins against Pohang Steelers and Incheon United, which have both come in the last three weeks, has to be the aim should Kim Byung-soo wish to get closer to the obvious goal of safety.

Gwangju, on the other hand, are in sombre shape. With just one point gained in their last five games, the Yellows find themselves five points adrift at the foot of the table. With that being said, performances have not been as bad as results may suggest, and a win against Gangwon would lift Kim Ho-young’s men to within two points of 9th, meaning this could be the ideal chance for a reversal in fortune.

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Team News

The home side will go into proceedings without Ko Moo-yeol, who will remain out for a number of weeks with a ligament injury. Yun Suk-young could also remain sidelined, but Kim Dong-hyun may play a more prominent role after returning to the matchday squad as an unused substitute last week. Elsewhere, Rustam Ashurmatov should be available after his international call up. After a week’s break heavy rotation is unlikely, so the likes of Rim Chang-woo, Han Kook-young and the in-form Kim Dae-won should all be in line to feature.

In a similar vein, Gwangju also come into the fixture with a couple of issues. Johnathan should still miss out through a hamstring injury, whilst winger Eom Ji-sung, whose length of absence is still unclear, may also be unavailable. However, players such as Kim Ju-kong and Um Won-sang should be raring to go after a couple of week’s league respite.

Head-to-Head

The two sides have a relatively even record when up against each other, but it’s the visitors who come out on top. The Yellows have won in six of the 18 meetings, with the Bears only claiming victory on four occasions. Given two of Gwangju’s triumphs have come this season alone, the odds may just favour them again on Sunday.

What to Watch

Can Gangwon build important late season momentum?

In the last four games, Gangwon have managed to pick up seven points, the same amount managed in the seven games prior. Consequently, the Bears will be hoping that they can use both their positive recent results and general improvements as a launching pad to eventual safety, whilst in the process also ensuring they have some vital momentum before the league split.

Can Gwangju score a vital third win of the season against the Bears?

25% of Gwangju’s wins this season have been against Gangwon. Their 3-1 home thrashing of the Bears was one of the Yellows’ finer performances, whereas the 1-0 win away from home showed the necessary grit and determination to stay in the league. Should they replicate either display on Sunday, there’s no reason why Kim Ho-young can’t steer his men to a third successive victory over his former employers.