Ulsan Hyundai vs Seoul

Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering K League 1 encounter between Ulsan Hyundai and Seoul.

After back-to-back one-goal margin losses in mid-May, defending champions Ulsan have turned their jets on, racking up a three-game unbeaten league streak (W2, D1) to bridge the gap on table-topping Gangwon. Level on points at the K League 1 summit, the Tigers have a game in hand and head into proceedings in a buoyant mood after a narrow 1-0 home win against fierce rivals Jeonbuk Motors last time out. Virtually unplayable in their own backyard, Chung Mong-joon’s men remain the only side in South Korea’s elite division yet to lose a home league match this season (W6, D2), largely thanks to a free-scoring frontline. Ulsan forwards have been firing on all cylinders this season, netting an eye-catching 21 goals across eight home league outings at an average of 2.62 per game.

In the meantime, Seoul’s form woes continued last weekend as they slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Gwangju, extending their underwhelming league run to four consecutive winless matches (D2, L2). Stranded five points below the playoff line, the visitors can take heart from a decent-looking four-game unbeaten away league streak (W2, D2), especially considering they fired in precisely two goals in three of those four games. Despite their recent scoring exploits, Kim Gi-dong’s men aren’t precisely a free-firing squad, averaging barely a goal per K League 1 travel this season. They’ve at least found their rhythm at the back, managing two clean sheets in their last four away league matches.