K LEAGUE

2021 K League 1 Round 33 Preview

league 2021.09.30 I 조회수 1146

K League 1 Round 33 sees Suwon FC welcome Ulsan Hyundai this Saturday with the Horangi looking to make amends for their defeat to the newly-promoted side on home turf only a couple of months ago. Elsewhere, Jeonbuk head to Gangwon to kick the weekend off in a bid to assert pressure on Ulsan while the evening sees local rivals Incheon United and Suwon Samsung Bluewings as both look to maintain their hopes of finishing in the top half. Sunday also sees relegation-threatened Seongnam FC take on a high-flying Jeju United while FC Seoul look to make it four games unbeaten when they welcome Daegu FC to the capital. K League United's Head of Editorial Matthew Binns looks at the match, team and player to watch this weekend.

Match of the Round

Suwon FC Vs. Ulsan Hyundai

In one of the more memorable matches this season, Suwon FC's trip to Ulsan Hyundai a couple of months ago made headlines as the recently-promoted side stunned the reigning Champions of Asia by five goals to two, with Suwon striker Lars Veldwijk scoring four and assisting the other. Despite missing a penalty last time out against Daegu, Veldwijk is once against considered to be the biggest threat to Ulsan on Saturday.

Ulsan, meanwhile, come into this match off another closely contested encounter to maintain their residence at the division's summit, defeating Gwangju FC 1-0 thanks to Lee Dong-jun. Lee made amends for a penalty miss earlier in the match with a fine second-half diving header to ensure the Horangi kept their one-point lead in first place.

These two sides last encounter was Suwon FC's first win ever against the Horangi, although their first meeting back in April fell in Ulsan's favour, a 1-0 victory courtesy of a late Kim In-sung goal after being reduced to ten men.

[READ: Suwon FC Vs. Ulsan Hyundai Preview]

Team of the Round

FC Seoul

A change in personnel at the helm and the alterations to the lineup that naturally come with it have certainly created the reaction the board may well have been after. After an underwhelming season near the relegation positions, FC Seoul are now unbeaten in four having most recently seen off bitter rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Suwon. In addition, players like Cho Young-wook are continuing to contribute to the capital club's re-emergence from the depths of the division, having found the net in four of Seoul's last five outings, including the opener against the Bluewings last Sunday. In Daegu FC, Seoul face a side flying high in third but their current momentum could just be enough to cause an upset.

Player of the Round

Paik Seung-ho

Last weekend saw Champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors inspired once again by their pre-season signing Paik Seung-ho as the defensive midfielder scored not only his third goal in three games but also scoring the opener in each of those matches. On this occasion, Paik rifled home a free-kick from the edge of the area against Incheon United just before the interval, before then putting in a solid performance to keep his side's opponents at bay after Jeonbuk had been reduced to ten men. This showing, plus his performances in his previous three matches, have also helped sway Korean National Team manager Paulo Bento to recall the player for next week's World Cup Qualifiers. Could Paik prove to be the difference once more when Jeonbuk head to Gangwon this Saturday?