Prediction and odds for the game: Pohang Steelers (19/20) v Busan I’Park (14/5)
We are backing the home win
When: Sunday, 10th May 2020, kick-off 6 AM
Where: The Steelyard Stadium
On Sunday morning, Pohang Steelers kick-off their K-League campaign by hosting Busan I’Park at the Steelyard Stadium.
Pohang Steelers
The home side missed out on qualifying for the AFC Champions League last season courtesy of goal difference, finishing fourth-place in the table. The Steelers mounted a late charge for the top-three by finishing the campaign with a four-game unbeaten run, including winning their last two league outings. However, it was to no avail, as Seoul clinched the final qualification for the Champions League. The home sides K-League games towards the end of the season were high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in five of their last six matches.
Pohang finished last season in a strong fashion on home soil, as are unbeaten in seven home games, having recorded five wins and two draws. The two home games that ended all-square at the end of the campaign produced costly. The Steelers good form in their most recent home matches is mainly down to their attacking strength, as they have scored at least twice in five of their last seven matches on home soil.
Busan I’Park
The home side returns to the K-League for the first time since 2015. The visitors won promotion via the play-offs following a 2-0 aggregate win over Gyeongnam after finishing second in K-League 2. They finished six points behind league winners Gwangju. The play-off triumph followed failed attempts in both season 2017 and 2018. It proved to be third time lucky for Busan.
The visitors will certainly need to do better than in their last stint in the South Korean top-flight. In fact, they won just one of their previous 24 matches in the K-League, including failing to win in their last 15 outings in the top-flight.
Unsurprisingly, considering the above stat, the visitors recent home record in the K-League is poor. They have failed to win in seven home matches in the top-flight, having won just one of their last 12 league outings on their own patch. It may not mean much, due to the big gap in time, but their recent home league games have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in four of their last five matches.
Conclusion
Before Busan’s relegation, encounters with Pohang Steelers had been nip and tuck. There was not much between the two teams in recent years when it came to encounters between the two. However, considering the two teams positions now, we are backing the Steelers to record a victory, as Busan I’Park may need time to adjust to life back in the K-League. We also see this game being an entertaining one, so with that in mind, we are backing over 2.5 goals scored.
Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 19/20 and over 2.5 goals scored at evens (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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