Pohang Steelers have started the 2020 K-League season well picking up four points from six possible. The club are now set to host capital club FC Seoul on Friday in the first match of the weekend on the peninsula.
FC Seoul head into matchday 3 with three points from six possible. After suffering a loss to Gangwon away on opening day, conceding three goals after taking an early lead, the Red Devils eked past Gwangju on matchday 2.
The capital club scored the winner in the 65th minute through Chan-Hee Han. In truth, FC Seoul should have won by more having outshot Gwangju 18-5 on the day.
Pohang Steelers kicked off the campaign with a solid win versus newly promoted Busan IPark 2-0 before drawing 1-1 on matchday 2 with Daegu FC. Steelers took a first-half lead through Aleksandar Paločević but conceded a second-half strike to finish with a draw.
The Steelers defence struggled to contain Daegu throughout the fixture allowing 16 shots with nine of those coming inside the penalty area. Coach Gi Dong Kim will need his side to play much better this weekend at home versus FC Seoul, if they want to continue their good early season form.
Matches between Pohang Steelers and FC Seoul tend to be high scoring. Six of the last seven games between the two clubs played in Pohang in all competitions ended with over 2.5 goals scored.
FC Seoul will have their backs up against the wall on Friday in Pohang. They are winless in three straight games against the Steelers. Their most recent meeting, played at Seoul World Cup Stadium in November 2019, saw Pohang Steelers leave with a 3-0 win.
Home comforts could play a part in the final result as Pohang Steelers are unbeaten in eight straight home K-League fixtures dating back to 2019.
Paločević is second in the K-League after two matchdays with two goals. He trails Ulsan Hyundi’s Junior Negao in the top scorer standings. Paločević is on loan this season from Portugal’s Nacional. He has been key to Pohang’s attack in both passing and scoring.
The Serbian has tallied six key passes after two games which is the second-most in the K-League. Pohang Steelers goalkeeper Hyeon-mu Kang is one of the top shot-stoppers after two matches with four saves.
Pohang Steelers should be too much for the hot and cold FC Seoul at home on Friday. The two clubs should once again combine for more than 2.5 goals, which is something they have done in their last two fixtures. Both teams should score goals and Pohang Steelers will stay unbeaten with another win.