Daejeon, meanwhile, drew their last two matches and have managed to pick up just two wins in ten. Since the win over FC Seoul, the Purples have won four, drawn four, and lost six. Glass half-full, though, and Lee Min-sung's men can boast of a mini-unbeaten run of three heading into this Saturday's visit to the capital.
Team News
Super Match match-winner Willyan will be available for FC Seoul despite the Brazilian star being on loan from Daejeon. The conclusion of Hwang Ui-jo's loan deal, though, means that An Ik-soo will have to make one forced change to the side that beat the Bluewings. Stanislav Iljutcenko or Park Dong-jin will be seen as Coach An's first choice options. Centre back Lee Han-beom is now just one booking away from a one-match ban but FC Seoul don't have any players missing through suspension.
Daejeon, too, won't have any players missing through suspension but Lee Hyun-sik and Oh Jae-suk are both one booking away from a one-match ban. Kang Yoon-seong could make his second debut for the club having rejoined from Jeju United earlier in the weekend. Cho Yu-min is a long-term absentee and is not expected back for a few months.
Head-to-Head
Daejeon won the first meeting this season, 3-2, in a game that saw the Purples go 2-0 up after 20 minutes thanks to an own goal from Osmar and a bullet header from Cho Yu-min, but were pegged back just after halftime. Iljutcenko had made it 2-1 on 25 minutes but parity was restored six minutes after the restart through a stunning long-range strike from Na Sang-ho. However, Daejeon's Japanese forward Masatoshi Ishida found a close-range winner one minute from time to earn Daejeon's first win over Seoul since 2004.
It was the first meeting between Seoul and Daejeon since 2015. Seoul won all three meetings that year, including 2-0 and 1-0 wins at Sangam. Daejeon have only beaten Seoul away from home on three occasions. In total, there have been 56 previous meetings with Seoul winning 25, Daejeon 13, and 18 draws.
Who to Watch
Willyan Barbosa, FC Seoul
Willyan scored for FC Seoul last time out, curling in a stunning strike to win the Super Match away to Suwon Bluewings. It was his fourth goal of the campaign and second match-winner but with a late equaliser at home to Jeju in May, the Brazilian has helped Seoul earn five extra points this term, not to mention the game's opener in a win over Gwangju in Round 12. The 29-year-old is on loan from Daejeon and will be keen to put in a performance. From 12 total shots this season, six have made the target. Most of which have come from outside the area with seven in total.
Leandro Ribeiro, Daejeon Hana Citizen
Willyan's former teammate Leandro will also be looking to impress. In fact, Seoul World Cup Stadium is a happy hunting ground for Daejeon's number 70 as he famously scored the winner in an FA Cup tie against FC Seoul while in the blue of Seoul E-Land, a game that was the first-ever 'Seoul Derby.' This season, Leandro is in superb form with seven assists and two goals. Leandro missed the trip to Jeju last time out through injury but is expected to return this Saturday.
