Korean K-League
2020-05-24 - Jeonbuk Motors vs Daegu
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: South Korea: K League
Sunday 24th May 2020 - Kick Off 4:30pm
British Time: 8:30am
Preview
The defending Champions will be going for a fourth consecutive K League title in 2020, although even Jeonbuk Motors' most ardent fans would recognise that they were fortunate for Ulsan's collapse in 2019. Goal difference helped Jeonbuk win the title and they have opened 2020 going blow for blow with Ulsan as the only two teams in this League which have won both League games played.
Those two teams are expected to be the two challenging for the title, but Jeonbuk Motors will also know they have to improve on their opening showings in 2020. They may have won both League games, but they were fortunate to win at Busan I'Park and only narrowly beat Suwon at home.
There is also a pressure on Jeonbuk Motors to have improved showings in the Asian Champions League, which is currently suspended, and also in the domestic Cup where they have struggled. Winning the title has become the minimum expectation of the Jeonbuk Motors and they have to add to that with better Cup showings.
At least Jeonbuk Motors have picked up maximum points though and they are now unbeaten in 10 K League games going back to 2019. They have won 5 of their last 7 League games including the last 3 in succession, while Jeonbuk Motors are unbeaten in 5 League games at home during which time they have won 4 times.
The Champions are significant favourites to beat Daegu who won the Cup in 2018 and have built on that to finish in the top six in 2019. Being without Champions League football this time around may actually benefit Daegu if they want to surpass the 5th place finish in the table from last season, but draws in their opening League games in 2020 have made it a slower start than would have been expected.
Daegu have won 1 of their last 7 games in the K League although they have also only been beaten twice in that time with both coming at home against the top two teams from last season. The away form has been much more impressive as Daegu have been able to dig in and that has seen them go 8 games unbeaten on their travels which includes a draw at Ulsan and a win at Jeonbuk Motors.
Jeonbuk Motors have actually won just 2 of their last 6 home games against Daegu and were beaten 0-2 here by them last time out.
Prediction
The defending Champions may have two wins out of two to open the K League season, but Jeonbuk Motors have yet to really impress. They will need to be better if they are going to continue their 100% start to the season when they host Daegu who overachieved in the League in 2019.
Some are still expecting this squad to at least match the 5th place finish from 2019 with the quality within their ranks, but Daegu are still looking for a first win of the season.
Playing away from home hasn't been much of an issue for Daegu so they should still be heading into this one with belief. They won the last time they visited Jeonbuk Motors in September 2019 and the home team have only won 2 of their last 8 home games by more than a single goal margin.
With that in mind and with the early season form being a little underwhelming, I do think backing Daegu with a start on the Asian Handicap is worth getting behind. They have been difficult to beat away from home and Daegu were unbeaten in 4 away games at Ulsan and Jeonbuk Motors in 2019 which has to be respected.
Even a narrow loss would see the stake returned when backing Daegu with the start and that is where my money will go this weekend.
The Pick :
Jeonbuk Motors 1-1 Daegu
