Korean K-League
2020-05-23 - Gangwon vs Seongnam
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: South Korea: K League
Saturday 23rd May 2020 - Kick Off 4:30pm
British Time: 8:30am
Preview
Only two League games are in the books in the 2020 K League season, but two of the early top five will meet on Saturday. It is the visitors Seongnam who are unbeaten going into this weekend's game, while Gangwon are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sangju Sangmu having beaten Seoul 3-1 on the opening weekend of the season.
Poor finishing proved to be costly for Gangwon, but a return to home surroundings could be crucial for them as they look to bounce back immediately. Last season it was the home record which produced the majority of the 50 points they finished with as Gangwon played in the Championship Round of the K League and they recovered from what had been a disappointing 2018.
There is room for improvement in what was the joint best finish to a Gangwon season in 2019, especially as they were a team who conceded too many goals despite dominating the possession statistics. Some fans believe the team are good enough to challenge for an Asian Champions League spot come the end of the season, but losses like the one suffered this past weekend can't become common place for them to do that.
They have won just 1 of their last 6 games going back to last season and Gangwon have worryingly lost 4 of those fixtures. However only one of their defeats came at home and Gangwon have managed to win 4 of their last 6 games here where they do turn their possession into goals.
Gangwon have scored at least two goals in 12 of their last 13 home games, although the poor defensive numbers I have alluded to above have prevented them having a lot more wins in that run.
Facing Seongnam is going to be far from easy, but these are the types of matches that Gangwon have to be targeting for victories if they are going to finish in the top three. That is no disrespect to Seongnam who have higher expectations of their own after a 9th place finish last season with some believing they could at least reach the Championship Round of the Division this time around.
Two clean sheets in two games will give Seongnam some confidence with the most immediate aim being to avoid a relegation fight. They are one of six teams who remain unbeaten through two rounds of fixtures, but this is going to be the first really big test they have faced in 2020 to show where the squad stands.
An away win at Gwangju will give Seongnam some confidence, and they have only lost 1 of their last 6 K League matches going back to last season. They have kept clean sheets in 3 away matches in a row and Seongnam have earned 7 points from a possible 12 in that run, although none of those matches came against clubs looking to challenge for the title and Champions League spots.
Before the Division was split in half, Seongnam had lost 10 out of 17 away games in the K League and that includes conceding late in a 2-1 defeat at Gangwon.
Prediction
With only two League games played it is hard to make sweeping statements about any team in this Division, but I do think Gangwon are worthy home favourites against Seongnam.
The feeling is that Gangwon will be operating at a higher level over the course of the campaign, while you can't underestimate how much better the team seems to perform when playing in their home Stadium.
Last season Seongnam comfortably avoided an immediate return to K League 2, but they did have some issues playing away from home.
I am not sure they will be able to contain Gangwon and backing the hosts on the Asian Handicap which returns half the stake in the event of a draw looks too hard to pass up.
The Pick :
Gangwon 2-0 Seongnam
