An uncharacteristically difficult start to the season sees Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors sit 11th in the table and on a run of three straight defeats. The most recent was a 2-0 reverse on the island away to Jeju United last weekend. The Green Warriors have also failed to score in their last three and so will be looking to make amends when Gimcheon Sangmu visit Jeonju Castle this Saturday night. Gimcheon, meanwhile, sit fifth after two wins from their first five games but make the trip to Jeonju on the back of a 1-0 loss to Incheon United. 

Jeonbuk may be sitting at a different end to the table than what they are used to but Kim Sang-sik's side have looked to find ways in on goal. With an xG of 4.2, Jeonbuk have looked to get crosses into the box and sit first for crosses made per 90 minutes, fourth overall. Jeonbuk's crossing accuracy is the second-best in the division at 40.2% with crosses fairly evenly distributed between each flank. They also sit second for headed shots made with 10, giving some indication as to what Gimcheon will be up against come Saturday. Gimcheon's xG is better than Jeonbuk's at 6.38 compared to five goals scored and the army side's xGA is at 7.36 with four goals conceded, suggesting that Kim Tae-wan's men are conceding fewer goals than is expected. One to watch in this one, if selected, will be striker Cho Gue-sung who is on loan at Gimcheon from Jeonbuk as part of his military service. Cho has three goals to his name this term and is the league's joint-top scorer.

With just one defeat in five and three wins, Incheon United find themselves third in the table and as one of the form teams in K League 1. And with just two goals conceded, United are up there with Ulsan as having the joint-meanest defence in the league. Last time out, a Stefan Mugoša strike proved to be the difference as Incheon ran out 1-0 winners over Gimcheon. Jo Sung-hwan's men can attribute the impressive start to the new campaign to being solid at the back and clinical upfront. Incheon are fourth in the league in terms of interceptions and first for defensive duels success at 66.4%. They are also third for shooting accuracy at 36.4%. Up next for Incheon is the trip to Seongnam to take on a Magpies side that is still searching for a win this season. Seongnam has been a happy hunting ground for Incheon in recent years and are unbeaten there in each of their last three visits. That includes the 6-0 win at the end of 2020 and a 3-1 win at the end of last season. 

Leonardo, Ulsan Hyundai (vs. Pohang Steelers)

Leonardo has taken to K League like a duck to water. The Brazilian has two goals in three league outings, three in four in all competitions having also bagged in Tuesday's 3-0 AFC Champions League playoff against Port FC. His xG per 90 minutes is fifth in K League 1 at 0.64 and 2.66 shots per 90 puts the former Urawa Reds man in the top 10 in that regard. Leonardo's shooting accuracy is at 50% so far from three appearances and 60% success rate for dribbles. Up next for Leonardo and Ulsan is the visit of Pohang Steelers for what will be his first East Coast Derby and the first this season. Pohang are second in the table after an impressive start to the new season and head to the Munsu on the back of a 1-1 draw with Suwon Bluewings after back-to-back 1-0 victories. The East Coast Derby record over the last 10 meetings is fairly even with five Ulsan wins and four for Pohang and one draw. 

MATCH POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 27TH

Elsewhere, FC Seoul take on Jeju United in what will be the capital club's first home match at Sangam since October last year. Seoul are without a win since the opening day and have been hit with a COVID-19 outbreak of 11 players and six staff and so a much-changed starting lineup is expected for the visit of the Islanders. Jeju, meanwhile, make the flight to the capital having beaten champions Jeonbuk and so will be confident of a third win this season.

Before that, Suwon Bluewings and Gangwon FC get the weekend's K League 1 action underway. Suwon will be looking to add to their solitary win so far this season and head into the international break on a high. They face a Gangwon FC side that is struggling with injuries to forward players, Dino Islamović has been ruled out after rupturing his Achilles. The Bears sit seventh with two wins, a draw and two losses from their first five matches.

Then on Sunday, fresh from their AFC Champions League playoff heroics, Daegu FC take on Suwon FC. Cesinha's sensational equaliser in the dying embers sent the Sky Blues' playoff with Buriram United of Thailand into penalties before a 3-2 shootout win. In league play, Daegu beat Seongnam 3-1 last time out and will be looking to pick up back-to-back victories for the first time in 2022. However, Suwon FC got up and running for the season last time out thanks to a 2-0 win over Gangwon and have moved away from the foot of the table.

[READ: What are the K League 1 derbies in 2022 and when are they?]

Saturday 19th March

#SSBvGAN: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (9th) vs Gangwon FC (7th) - 14:00 
#SEOvJEJ: FC Seoul (8th) vs Jeju United (4th) - 16:30 
#JEOvGIM: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (11th) vs Gimcheon Sangmu (5th) - 19:00 

#SUWvDAE: Suwon FC (10th) vs Daegu FC (6th) - 14:00 
#EastCoastDerby: Ulsan Hyundai (1st) vs Pohang Steelers (2nd) - Postponed
#SFCvINC: Seongnam FC (12th) vs Incheon United (3rd) - 19:00 

Follow all the action live on K League TV for FREE and in HD.

Paul Neat
Editor-in-Chief