Seoul E-Land vs Gyeongnam Betting Pick | Korean K-League2

Korean K-League2

2020-05-17 - Seoul E-Land vs Gyeongnam

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Seoul E-Land v Gyeongnam
Football: South Korea: K League 2
Sunday 17th May 2020 - Kick Off 4pm
British Time: 8am

Preview

When you play in the capital and you have been given access to play home games in the Olympic Stadium there are going to be some big expectations attached to it. In 2014 Seoul E-Land were formed and they played in the K League 2 for the first time in 2015 when finishing 4th but not able to earn promotion to the top flight.

Things have declined in each season since to the point that Seoul E-Land have finished bottom of K League 2 for the second year in a row in 2019. They have won 15 of their last 72 games played at this level, but the fans are demanding a much improved 2020 and the 1-1 draw at Jeju United last week will have given them some confidence.

Scoring goals was not much of an issue for Seoul E-Land, but they conceded 71 times in 2019 and that was fifteen more than the team with the next worst defensive record. In the off-season they did manage to secure Chung Jung-yong to take over as manager and he has a big reputation having guided the South Korean Under 20 team to Runner Up at the World Cup last year.

Seoul E-Land also made some astute signings and there is a belief they could perhaps even challenge for a top four finish if those signings can gel. The draw last week will have helped the confidence and Seoul E-Land did have the majority of their successes here having won 4 of their home games last season.

That result against Jeju United does mean Seoul E-Land have not won any of their last 13 games in the League going back to last season and been beaten in 7 of those. However they had drawn 4 in a row at home before losing 3-5 to Busan I'Park in their last game here as they open the 2020 season at the Olympic Stadium.

After facing one relegated club, Seoul E-Land will be hosting Gyeongnam who were relegated from the K League after losing the Play Off to Busan I'Park. That came in a season in which Gyeongnam had been playing in the Asian Champions League and the side have been a little inconsistent having won the K League 2 title in 2017 before returning to that Division in 2020.

There is a real belief that Gyeongnam should not be playing at this level and they have to be chasing promotion at the very least having managed to retain their attacking talent. The goalless draw with Jeonnam Dragons to open this season will have been a disappointing result for Gyeongnam, but this is too early to panic and there are significant things expected of the club who have all the off field tools to be successful.

The side have not scored in any of their last 4 games which is a concern, but Gyeongnam have only lost 1 of those fixtures. They have lost 1 of their last 5 away games in all competitions going back to last season and Gyeongnam have won hal of their last 4 games on their travels.

This will be the first time these two clubs are meeting one another.

Prediction

Both teams are coming in off draws, although Gyeongnam would have expected more and Seoul E-Land may see the point as a bonus one.

The second round of fixtures are played this weekend as both teams look to produce the first three points of the 2020 season. Some may look at Seoul E-Land's last two seasons and believe they are massively overmatched, but this is a club that has much bigger expectations than the last two 10th placed finishes would indicate.

Expectations won't be being managed by Gyeongnam who will believe it is a promotion or bust season. The lack of goals in recent games going back to last season will be a worry, but Seoul E-Land are far from watertight in defence.

5 of the last 6 Seoul E-Land games played at home have ended with three or more goals shared out, and both teams have hit the net in each of those. Before the goalless draw with Busan I'Park in the Play Offs, 3 Gyeongnam away matches in succession finished with three or more goals shared out and that looks a decent chance of being the outcome of this one.

The 1-1 scoreline is a worry, but at odds against this is another game in which I am backing three or more goals to be shared out.