Prediction and odds for the game: Ulsan Hyundai (3/5) v Sangju Sangmu (4/1)

We are backing the home win

When: Saturday, 9th May 2020, kick-off 06:00

Where: Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium

On Saturday morning (GMT), Ulsan Hyundai will look to get their challenge for the South Korean K-League off to a winning start as they host Sangju Sangmu.

Ulsan Hyundai

The home side head into this campaign as last season’s runners up in the K-League. Agonisingly Ulsan lost out on the title courtesy of inferior goal difference to the league recent dominant force Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

A big factor in the home side losing out on the title was the fact that they picked up just a point from their last two league games. A final day 4-1 home defeat against Pohang Steelers cost Ulsan the title. Although the home sides end of season games were not always high-scoring, both teams scored in five of their last six matches in the K-League.

The fact that Ulsan suffered a home defeat on the final day was bucking a trend. The home side headed into the game on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run on home soil in the South Korean top-flight. A key to that recent good run of form on home soil is that Ulsan have failed score in just one of their last 15 home matches in the K-League.

Sangju Sangmu

The military team endured mixed fortunes last season, eventually finishing sixth-place in the 12-team K-League table. They will be striving for a higher place finish this season.

The visitors finished last season in decent form, winning five of their last seven games in the top-flight of the South Korean football. Their matches towards the back of the previous campaign were relatively high-scoring, with five of their last eight league matches producing over 2.5 goals.

Sangju Sangmu were not the best of travellers with an inconsistent away record last season. The visitor’s record of just three wins in their last 12 K-League matches on the road is certainly not a great one that’s for sure. Their recent away games in the K-League have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four matches on their travels. However, the visitors have only failed to score in one of their last seven away games in the K-League.

Conclusion

Ulsan will be highly confident of mounting another title bid this season. They will be hoping to get their league campaign off to a winning start in this clash. We are backing last season’s runners-up to record a victory. The other recommendation we are making is to back both teams to score. Ulsan are an attacking threat on home soil, while the visitors tend to score on the road.

Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 3/5 and/or both teams to score at odds of 10/11. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

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Will Ulsan get their title challenge off to a winning start?