#ULSvDAE Preview: Will the tide turn for Ulsan HD or Daegu FC?

In what is the only K League 1 match this weekend due to the ongoing EAFF E-1 Football Championships, Ulsan HD host Daegu FC at the Munsu Stadium on Saturday, with both teams in need of a mood-lifting and fortune-turning win. 

Overview & Match Information

Fixture: Ulsan HD (7th) vs Daegu FC (12th)

Competition: 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 Round 21
Venue: Ulsan Munsu Stadium
Date: Saturday 12th July 2025, 19:00 KST
Streaming: K League TV (free)

Sitting seventh but with two games in hand, Ulsan will see their Club World Cup homecoming - and visit of last place Daegu - as a must-win. A victory, which would be their first in six in all competitions, could move Kim Pan-gon's men up to third with a convincing win. Daegu, still waiting to get off the mark under new manager Kim Byung-soo, are rock bottom of the table and 11 points from absolute safety.

[READ: 2025 K League 2 Round 20 Preview]

Recent Form

The Horangi head into Saturday's match licking their wounds somewhat, having lost all three matches at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, and were then dumped out of the Korea Cup following a 1-0 loss away to Gwangju. That makes it four straight losses, putting the pressure on manager Kim Pan-gon. It will be Ulsan's first home match in 50 days, since the 3-2 win over Gimcheon on May 25th. In league form only, it's just one loss in seven with three wins, but said wins came two months ago.

Daegu's last win goes back to May 3rd, a 3-1 victory at home to Jeju SK. Since then, it's been two points picked up from 18 available with six defeats. Under new manager Kim Byung-soo, from five matches in charge, the Sky Blues are on a gloomy run of three losses and two draws in all competitions.

Head-to-Head

Ulsan have a strong track record against Daegu. In their first meeting of the season on April 13th, Ulsan earned a 1-0 away win thanks to Kang Sang-woo’s goal, assisted by Lee Chung-yong. They defeated Daegu in all three matches last season and are currently on a five-match winning streak against them. Since a 2-0 win on December 5, 2021, Ulsan are undefeated in 12 straight matches against Daegu (10 wins, 2 draws). Overall, Ulsan hold a dominant head-to-head record with 36 wins, 15 draws, and just eight losses. 

Team News

Ulsan will be without goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo and defenders Seo Myeong-kwan and Cho Hyun-taek, who are with the Korea squad for the EAFF E-1 Championship. Winger Um Won-sang is a doubt due to an injury picked up in the Club World Cup, while striker Heo Yool is suspended. 

Centre back Kim Jin-hyuk is said to be back in training and could be in line for a return to shore up Daegu's leaky back line. Manager Kim Byung-soo could hand a debut to defender Woo Joo-seong, who signed from Gyeongnam FC on Friday, and league debuts to recent additions Geovani and Carlos Jatoba, who both made their Daegu bows in the cup before the international break.

[READ: Team K League Fan Eleven Vote Update]

What to Watch

Ulsan's efficiency vs. Daegu's resilience

Ulsan tend to dominate games, certainly in terms of possession with 60.2% the highest in K League 1, while an xG of 32.3 is the second highest, while 4.5 shots on target per match is the third highest, first for touches in the box with 574, and 39 big chances created is also the third highest. However, the Horangi are also third for big chances missed and will need their front players to be more clinical. A discrepancy of nine goals suggests that Ulsan are vastly underperforming in front of goal, but, optimistically, this should even itself out - something the likes of Erick Farias, Gustav Ludwigson, and Matias Lacava will be hoping does.

Daegu's xGA of 32 is the highest in the league, but they rank fifth for possession won in the final third per match with 3.8, sixth for clearances per match at 26.2, first for interceptions per match at 10.6, and fifth for successful tackles per match with 11.3. To keep the Horangi at bay, Daegu are going to have to be at their best defensively, and hope that Cesinha, Edgar, and co. are on hand to take the chances that a created. 

Where to Watch

Watch live with English commentary on TV.KLeague.com.

KLU Pod | What's going on at Daegu FC?

Listen to the KLU Pod wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave us a review!

iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Libsyn | TuneIn Radio