The biggest bang in the K League is back.
Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai will face off in the 27th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 at Munsoo Stadium in Ulsan, South Korea on September 19. The matchup between the two teams is one of the most anticipated rivalries in the K League in recent years. The teams have always fought hard, as evidenced by their 40 wins, 29 draws, and 41 losses against each other in the K League (based on Ulsan).
Just two years ago, Jeonbuk dominated Ulsan. Ulsan was chasing Jeonbuk, which has won the league title nine times since 2009. In the meantime, Ulsan’s image as a “perennial runner-up” has been cemented. However, since Hong Myung-bo took the helm of Ulsan in 2021, the team has won four games, drawn three and lost three. They erased the Jeonbuk trauma and won their third title in a row last year.
This season, Ulsan is also far ahead in the title race. Through 25 rounds, they have 18 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses with 57 points. Jeonbuk is in third place, but with 12 W, 5 D, 9 L, and 41 points, the gap is too wide for them to realistically win the title.
Still, the head-to-head record is even. In the two previous meetings this season, the two sides were smiling from ear to ear. 스포츠토토 This will be the first meeting since Dan Petrescu (Romania) took over as Jeonbuk’s head coach, so it will be interesting to see how the home-away division will play out.
Coincidentally, there’s a big change for both teams ahead of their third meeting this season. Both teams are missing a veteran central defender. Ulsan’s Kim Young-kwon is suspended after receiving a yellow card against Gangwon FC in Round 25. Jeonbuk’s Hong Jeong-ho was also sent off for accumulating cautions in their home match against Suwon Samsung in Round 25. Both teams have alternatives, but in big matches, even the smallest variables can have unexpected consequences.
We should also keep an eye on recent form. Ulsan in particular is in a slump. They have one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five games. The team’s momentum has plummeted, as they were once looking at the dream of 100 points. Even coach Hong admits that “the mood has dropped the most since he took over.” In the same period, Jeonbuk won 2, drew 2, and lost 1. We can’t wait to see the outcome of the 111th Hyundai Derby in the history of the K League.