K-League 1 prediction and preview: Jeonbuk Motors modest favorites to beat Pohang Steelers

It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Jeonbuk and Pohang Steelers.

Jeonbuk Motors form and stats

Jeonbuk Motors, who have the most points (16) at home in K-League 1, have been outstanding at home so far in the K-League 1 with 5 wins, 1 draw and only 0 losses.

Happy days for Jeonbuk in their previous game, a FA Cup match away at Busan I'Park (placed 6th) that ended with a 5-1 victory. Previous to that game, a K-League 1 home match hosting Seoul in a game that was won 3-0.

As indicated by the result mentioned above, Jeonbuk played a great game against Busan I'Park and beat them comfortably. Expectations are high for this one. Gustavo was absolutely essential when Jeonbuk beat Busan I'Park 5-1, scoring three goals.

The betting market estimate that the home team has about 55-60% chance of winning this match. There could be betting value if you think differently, so to help you here are the stats from Jeonbuk's earlier matches at home being 55%-60% favourite: Played four games, won three matches, drawn one and lost zero.

The Jeonbuk fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 10 goals in 6 league matches. Defensively Jeonbuk have been outstanding, conceding less than half a goal on average per home game in the league (2 in 6 games). For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.

Pohang Steelers form and stats

The strength of Pohang Steelers on their travels this season is incredible with 16 points collected from 6 K-League 1 away games. Pohang Steelers has 5-1-0 on the road, with 18 goals scored and 5 conceded. Long winning streaks away are a rare occurrence in football, which only makes Steelers's record of five away victories in a row even more impressive. They last lost points away in the Daegu game.

Two travels in a row for Pohang Steelers, whose manager G. Kim could celebrate last time after the FA Cup win against Seoul. Ahead of that game was the 1-1 draw at home against Incheon United in the K-League 1.

As you can tell from the results above, Steelers was very dominant against Seoul, winning the match with a scoreline that even the finest fortune teller couldn't predict. 5-1 (!) with S. Iljutcenko, Shim Dong-Woon (2), Kim Kwang-Suk and Song Min-Kyu providing the goals.

Looking at the earlier recent performances of Steelers when being an outsider away as they are today, we find one match with the visitors losing one time, drawing zero and winning zero games.

The prediction for this game is lots of goals as Steelers alone have scored more than three on average in their league games away (18 from 6 played). Pohang Steelers are defending well in their away games, having conceded only 5 times in 6 matches. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.

Head 2 Head

These teams' last encounter with each other was the Pohang Steelers - Jeonbuk 1-2 earlier this season. Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: six - two - two (Jeonbuk wins - draws - Pohang Steelers wins). As for goals, six matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), four had two or less.

Top Goalscorers

S. Iljutcenko 10 goals

K. Han 5 goals

M. Song 5 goals

Jeonbuk Motors missing players

Pohang Steelers missing players

		Total						Home						Away
#	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	MP	W	D	L	F	A	MP	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	P
1	Ulsan	13	10	2	1	32	9	6	4	1	1	11	4	7	6	1	0	21	5	23	32
2	Jeonbuk Motors	13	9	2	2	21	8	6	5	1	0	10	2	7	4	1	2	11	6	13	29
3	Pohang Steelers	13	7	3	3	26	15	7	2	2	3	8	10	6	5	1	0	18	5	11	24
4	Sangju Sangmu	13	7	3	3	15	16	7	5	0	2	10	9	6	2	3	1	5	7	-1	24
5	Daegu	13	6	4	3	25	16	7	4	2	1	17	7	6	2	2	2	8	9	9	22
6	Busan I'Park	1d>100%	100%	100%	Over 0.5	O 0.5	50%	90%	90%
81%	90%	50%	Over 1.5	O 1.5	50%	70%	76%
76%	80%	50%	Over 2.5	O 2.5	50%	50%	57%
43%	30%	50%	Over 3.5	O 3.5	0%	30%	38%
33%	30%	50%	Over 4.5	O 4.5	0%	10%	14%
71%	70%	50%	BTTS	BTTS	50%	60%	57%
19%	20%	50%	Clean Sheets	C S	50%	30%	33%
10%	10%	0%	Failed to Score	F T	50%	20%	19%
7.8	7.5	3.5	Corners for (avg)	C F	4.5	4.9	5.2
3.6	4.3	3.5	Corners against (avg)	C A	4.5	3.1	3.9
1.3	1.4	1.5	Yellow cards (avg)	Y C	2.5	2	2.4
0	0	0	Red cards	R C	0	0	1
255	151	11	Total Shots	T S	15	94	196
110	65	6	Shots on Target	S O	7	33	80
35%	32%	50%	Goal Efficiency	G E	14%	42%	40%

Al Sadd			First Half	Al Gharafa
Total	Home	vs top	Statistics	Stat	vs top	Away	Total
21	10	2	Played	P	2	10	21
11	6	1	Won	W	0	1	4
4	2	0	Drew	D	2	8	12
6	2	1	Lost	L	0	1	5
28	12	2	Scored	S	0	5	11
17	8	2	Conceded	C	0	6	14
95%	100%	100%	Over 0.5	O 0.5	0%	50%	67%
67%	70%	50%	Over 1.5	O 1.5	0%	40%	38%
33%	30%	50%	Over 2.5	O 2.5	0%	10%	10%
10%	0%	0%	Over 3.5	O 3.5	0%	10%	5%
5%	0%	0%	Over 4.5	O 4.5	0%	0%	0%
38%	50%	50%	BTTS	BTTS	0%	30%	24%
43%	40%	50%	Clean Sheets	C S	100%	60%	52%
24%	10%	0%	Failed to Score	F T	100%	60%	57%

Al Sadd			Second Half	Al Gharafa
Total	Home	vs top	Statistics	Stat	vs top	Away	Total
21	10	2	Played	P	2	10	21
10	3	0	Won	W	0	4	8
6	3	1	Drew	D	1	4	7
5	4	1	Lost	L	1	2	6
22	9	1	Scored	S	1	9	22
11	6	2	Conceded	C	2	6	14
76%	70%	50%	Over 0.5	O 0.5	50%	80%	76%
48%	40%	50%	Over 1.5	O 1.5	50%	50%	57%
29%	30%	50%	Over 2.5	O 2.5	50%	20%	33%
5%	10%	0%	Over 3.5	O 3.5	0%	0%	5%
0%	0%	0%	Over 4.5	O 4.5	0%	0%	0%
24%	20%	50%	BTTS	BTTS	50%	40%	33%
57%	50%	50%	Clean Sheets	C S	50%	50%	52%
43%	60%	50%	Failed to Score	F T	50%	30%	38%

Key stats in Premier League this season:

• Al Sadd has the fewest dropped points from leading position (5)
• Al Sadd has the most scored goals (21) at home
• Al Sadd has the most scored goals (50)
• Al Sadd has the most scored goals in the first half (28)
• Al Sadd have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
• Al Sadd have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded.
• Al Sadd haven’t played a single 0-0 game.