Preview: FC Seoul vs Daegu FC

Looking to build on Sunday's last gasp draw away to Suwon Bluewings in the first Super Match of 2019, FC Seoul take on high-fliers Daegu FC in K League 1 Round 11 this Saturday evening. Seoul are without a win in their last four in all competitions whilst Daegu have three wins on the spin heading into Saturday's clash at Sangam. Three points on Saturday would see either team put pressure on the early pace-setters.

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Suwon Bluewings 1-1 FC Seoul

FC Seoul struck late at Big Bird to salvage a draw in the first Super Match of the season. Park Chuyoung fired in a 99th minute penalty, despite missing from the spot just nine minutes earlier, to cancel out Dejan's 56th minute opener.

It was an eventful match in Suwon and, aside from a red card, had everything; VAR, penalties, late equalisers, and a partisan crowd. Despite starting on the bench, former FC Seoul fan favourite Dejan Damjanović began the Super Match on the bench but came on in the 39th minute to replace youngster Oh Hyungyu. The veteran opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the second period, finding the bottom corner from 20 yards out after Elvis Sarić had worked his way towards the edge of the area.

Yun Jutae thought he had levelled for Seoul just moments after coming on as a substitute but the striker's close range effort was chalked off for offside. Then, in the 90th minute, Seoul were awarded a penalty, with VAR intervening once again, after Park Chuyoung was brought down by Kim Jongwoo. Park stepped up but saw his spot kick saved by Noh Donggeon in the Suwon goal. The visitors gave up hope but then, after a cleverly-worked free kick, Go Yohan was brought down by the trailing leg of Bluewings custodian Noh Donggeon. Park Chuyoung stepped up again, this time finding the bottom corner with aplomb.

Match Report: here

'I gave up hope', Osmar: here

Highlights: here

Daegu FC 4-0 Melbourne Victory

In midweek Daegu FC made it three wins on the spin in all competitions by comfortably dispatching of Melbourne Victory in matchday five of AFC Champions League Group F. Influential forward Edgar gave the Sky Blues the lead in the ninth minute, sending goalkeeper Acton the wrong way from the spot.

Then in the second half, towering centre back Jung Taewook put clear daylight between the two sides firing in the rebound from his own header in the 53rd minute before Kim Daewon made it three with a stunning strike from distance, finding the top corner. The cherry was well and truly on the cake six minutes from time when Jung Seonho turned home Kim Junhyup's low cross to make it 4-0. The win means that Daegu's destiny is in their own hands heading into ACL matchday six in a fortnight's time.

AFC Champions League Guide: here

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

These two teams met on four occasions last season; FC Seoul picked up the win in the first meeting, displacing their North Gyeongsang counterparts with ease in a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Evandro, Go Yohan and a Kim Jinhyeok own goal. However, in the three meetings since, Daegu are unbeaten against Seoul having picked up one win and earned two draws. The most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw at Daegu Stadium in November, Cesinha cancelling out Go Yohan's first half strike in the 85th minute. The last meeting at Sangam resulted in a 2-0 Daegu win with goals from Kim Daewon and Edgar Silva.

In total FC Seoul and Daegu FC have met on 35 previous occasions with Seoul picking up 16 wins to Daegu's nine and 10 draws. In the capital, from 18 meetings, Seoul have 10 victories whilst Daegu have just five and three draws.

Team News

Ahead of Saturday's visit of Daegu FC, FC Seoul manager Choi Yongsoo will be without his central midfield duo which started in the Super Match last weekend. Cho Youngwook is unavailable due to his involvement with the Korean U20 team, whilst club captain Go Yohan is suspended after picking up his third yellow of the campaign at Big Bird last Sunday.

However, Uzbek international midfielder Ikromjon Alibaev is available again following a one-match ban. Furthermore, Aleksandar Pešić looks set for a return after missing out last week. The Serbian striker took part in a press conference at FC Seoul's training ground on Thursday morning and so is likely to be involved.

FC Seoul lineup vs Suwon Bluewings, K League 1 R10

The Adversary

Daegu FC will make a long trip to the capital city to take on FC Seoul on Saturday afternoon after an entertaining 4-0 win over Melbourne Victory at home. The citizen club, who were expected to struggle a lot due to a busy fixture pileup and an apparent lack of depth ahead of this season, are currently ranked third in the K League 1 table. The Sky Blues have received their fair share of plaudits as a good team that has a strong defensive ability. In the domestic league, Daegu have the fewest goals conceded among the 12 teams with just five. What is more inspiring is that they showed off their attacking ability without Brazilian playmaker Cesinha, the most important asset, being ruled out due to injury.

Daegu are well aware of the importance of this match. In a post-match interview after the midweek Champions League game, Daegu manager Andre clearly spoke to the press that he doesn’t have squad rotation in his mind until next Wednesday when Daegu face off Gyeongnam in last 16 of the FA Cup as both games are really important. As a result, the gaffer is expected to set out the strongest side with few changes.

While there are no suspensions among the squad, Cesinha, who has been side-lined for two weeks due to a hamstring injury, is expected to return to the team this weekend. The boss revealed that Cesinha’s return is imminent by saying “he [Cesinha] could get involved with the game as either a starter or substitute." If Cesinha starts on the weekend, Hwang Soonmin could start on the bench considering his recent form. Depending on results elsewhere, the Sky Blues could leapfrog Ulsan into second place at the least to continue with their challenge for the title and an automatic ACL spot.

-Muyeol Jung

Daegu FC lineup vs Melbourne Victory, AFC Champions League Matchday 5

Who To Watch

Ikromjon Alibaev - FC Seoul

With both Go Yohan and Cho Youngwook unavailable for Saturday's visit of Daegu, the onus will be on Ikromjon Alibaev to be the creative outlet in the centre of the park for FC Seoul. The Uzbek international was suspended for last Sunday's Super Match and was reportedly very disappointed with the sending off in Jeonju a fortnight ago and so will be determined to make a difference against third-placed Daegu. In the league this season Alibaev has 81.4% passing accuracy, 72.6% for passes into the final third and 71.4% for passes forward.

Kim Daewon - Daegu FC

Striker Kim Daewon is rapidly becoming one of Daegu's most important players, slotting in alongside Edgar Bruno and Cesinha in attack. The 22 year-old may only have one league goal to his name thus far, but the academy graduate bagged the all-important equaliser in Daegu's FC Cup win over Suwon FC in round four, and also has two ACL goals - including Wednesday's night's peach of a strike in the 4-0 win over Melbourne Victory, not to mention four assists in all competitions. In the league Kim has 15 shot assists, 28 in all competitions, and a 72.9% dribble success rate.

Prediction

For FC Seoul the visit of Daegu will be big of a test as any Choi Yongsoo's men have faced this term. The Sky Blues find themselves in the dizzy heights of third place and are on a run of three straight wins in all competitions and just one defeat in seven. The capital club were unlucky against Jeonbuk, and will have been relieved after Park Chuyoung's equalising penalty in the dying embers which will have given the capital club some belief. Saturday's K League 1 Round 10 clash could go either way but a score draw is perhaps the most likely outcome.