In the penultimate weekend of fixtures before Final A and B, FC Seoul host Daegu FC in Round 33 of the 2021 Hana 1Q K League 1. While Daegu FC have already secured a top-half finish, the Sky Blues will be looking for three points in their bid to clinch place in next season's AFC Champions League. FC Seoul, meanwhile, have survival to fight for and will be confident of extending their current unbeaten run to five matches.
Recent Form
FC Seoul's recent run of form of two wins and two draws since the appointment of An Ik-soo has seen them move to within six points of the top six and three clear of the relegation zone. Last Sunday, the capital club picked up a 2-0 win over rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the third Super Match of 2021 thanks to second half goals from Cho Young-wook and Na Sang-ho for what was also their second clean sheet in as many matches. Coach An has overseen quite the turnaround with an unbeaten run of four straight matches.
Daegu FC, meanwhile, are on a run of just one defeat in five in all competitions but in league play are unbeaten in six with four wins. Last time out, the Sky Blues drew 0-0 with Suwon FC but remain three points clear of fourth. Daegu are guaranteed to finish in the top half of the table due to their nine-point cushion over seventh.
Team News
FC Seoul were able to welcome the return of Ji Dong-won from injury; the former Sunderland and Augsburg forward came off the bench in last Sunday's Super Match win over Suwon Bluewings. Jung Han-min is also back in training but was absent from the Super Match matchday squad. Full backs Kim Jin-ya and Ko Kwang-min remain doubts, as do defensive trio Connor Chapman, Kim Won-gun and Hwang Hyun-soo. Seoul don't have any suspensions but full back Lee Tae-seok is just one yellow away from a one-match ban.
Daegu will be without veteran midfielder Lee Yong-rae due to suspension. Defender Kim Jae-woo remains an absentee with a left knee ligament problem, while Park Byung-hun has a thigh problem, and giant defender Jeong Tae-wook is said to be due back in early October.
Head-to-Head
The last 10 meetings between FC Seoul and Daegu FC have been dead even with each team picking up three wins and four draws. In terms of goals, however, Daegu lead 14-8, helped by the 6-0 drubbing they handed then-Choi Yong-soo's side in June 2020. The most recent meeting at the beginning of June ended in a 1-1 draw. Tsubasa Nishi gave Daegu a 67th-minute lead only for Paločević to salvage a draw ten minutes from time. Prior to that, Daegu picked up a 1-0 win at Seoul World Cup Stadium - Edgar Silva with the game's only goal on 29 minutes. Overall, there have been 43 K League meetings with FC Seoul winning 17 times, Daegu 12 and 14 draws. Goals scored leans in Seoul's favour at 63 to 47.
What to Watch
Two teams with in-form forwards and much to play for
Since An Ik-soo took over at Sangam prior to the Round 29 fixture away to Seongnam, Seoul have been in good form and sit second for shots made and joint-second for goals scored with five. Daegu too have excelled with the most shots in the division and the same number of goals scored as Seoul. FC Seoul have been more probing since the appointment of Coach An and have made the most passes to the final third in the division over that period with 369. For reference, Daegu rank eighth in this regard.
In terms of individual players, Cho Young-wook and Edgar both have three goals in their last four matches. Cesinha is second for shots with 14, Cho Young-wook fifth with 10. Cesinha is joint top in terms of shots on target while Na Sang-ho and Cho Young-wook are joint third with seven. Both teams are in good form and both have attacking talent which is in good goal-scoring form too. Likewise, both teams have a lot to play for heading into the final round before Final A and B meaning the onus will be on both teams to get on the front foot.
FC Seoul versus Daegu FC kicks off at 19:00 KST on Sunday 3rd October 2021. Fans in countries with K League overseas broadcasting rights can follow the game live on television. More information can be found
here.
Alternatively, K League matches are also available LIVE, for FREE and in HD on
tv.kleague.com.
Paul Neat
Managing Editor
