Jeonbuk-Ulsan ‘Hyundai Family Derby,’ who will balance 40 wins, 29 draws and 40 losses?
Jeonbuk Hyundai and Ulsan Hyundai are set for the ‘Hyundai Family Derby’.
Jeonbuk and Ulsan will face off in the 16th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 on Wednesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Jeonbuk is in seventh place with five wins, three draws, seven losses and 18 points, while Ulsan is in first place with 12 wins, two draws, one loss and 38 points.
In the past, Jeonbuk and Ulsan have always fought a fierce battle. They went head-to-head as championship favorites based on their solid history. Since the 2019 season, only two teams have won or been runners-up in the K League 1. While Jeonbuk has been at the top of their game, Ulsan has been struggling and reached the top of the K League 1 last season.
While neither team is in contention for the title this season, the rivalry between Jeonbuk and Ulsan is more intense than ever. Jeonbuk and Ulsan have met 110 times, with 40 wins, 29 draws, and 40 losses.
Jeonbuk has been steady since Kim Doo-hyun took over as head coach. Even though they lost in the previous round, they continued to play fiercely. They have two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five games, starting with their match against FC Seoul in the 11th round.
Under Kim, the team rebounded. Starting with the match against FC Seoul in the 11th round, Jeonbuk turned things around with two wins, two draws, and one loss in five games.
In particular, Jeonbuk was revitalized on the flanks with Song Min-kyu and Lee Dong-joon, and the forward pairing of Baek Seung-ho and Ryu Jae-moon worked. Baek Seung-ho is injured, but Meng Sung-woong is expected to return. Therefore, there is plenty of potential for an accelerated performance.
Ulsan is the overwhelming favorite. They have scored the most goals in the K League 1 with 32, and are fourth in fewest goals conceded with 16. Their offensive and defensive balance is stable. In particular, the performances of In-jong-kyu, Bacco, and Rubikson are encouraging. 안전놀이터
In particular, In-jong-kyu scored multiple goals despite suffering a facial injury in the previous match. His mental strength has also been strengthened.
Ulsan is also trying to stabilize its defense. However, Kim Young-kwon is injured and it is unclear if he will be available for the derby. However, Jeong Seung-hyun and Lim Jong-hyun have stepped up to the plate.
Meanwhile, the second Hyundai Derby of the season is drawing a lot of attention from the crowd. More than 21,000 fans have purchased tickets ahead of the game. In addition, national soccer team coaches Hairchoke, Stringara, and Michael Kim will be in attendance.