K League 1 is entering the 5th round.
Match of the round: 'Breaking the losing streak' Jeonbuk vs 'Challenging for the first win' Pohang
In the 5th round, Jeonbuk will meet Pohang. Both teams are desperately in need of a rebound due to their poor performance in the early season.
Home team Jeonbuk remains in 9th place (4 points) after a 2-1 victory against Gimcheon in the opening match, followed by 1 draw and 2 losses in three matches. Jeonbuk's top scorers, Compañó (2 goals) and Thiago, missed the last match due to injuries, and their participation in this game is also uncertain. As a result, the roles of Song Min-kyu and Lee Seung-woo have become even more important. Song Min-kyu recorded 6 goals and 6 assists last season, while Lee Seung-woo scored 12 goals and 6 assists, making them key offensive resources aiming for attacking points in this match.
Pohang (12th, 1 point) has not yet won a match, with 1 draw and 2 losses since the season began. Recently, the captain Wanderson has been sidelined with an injury, leading to the appointment of Jeon Min-gwang as the new captain, who needs to quickly stabilize the team's atmosphere and create a turning point. Notably, Pohang was able to rejuvenate themselves during the recent round as their match against Gwangju was postponed, allowing them to regroup.
Pohang has recorded 1 goal and 5 conceded in 3 matches this season, indicating a need for improvement in both offense and defense. Forward Jorge disappointingly scored 4 goals and 3 assists in 34 matches last season, but he contributed crucially to Pohang's victory in the Korea Cup final by finding the net in important moments. As this season marks his second year with Pohang, a more explosive scoring output is necessary. On defense, new captain Jeon Min-gwang must enhance the defensive organization to minimize goals conceded.
Meanwhile, the head-to-head record between Jeonbuk and Pohang last season was even at 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. The first match of the season between the two teams will be held on the 16th (Sunday) at 4:30 p.m. at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Team of the round: Gimcheon with fierce scoring power
Gimcheon (3rd place, 7 points) continued their unbeaten streak with a 3-1 victory against Anyang in the 4th round, marking 3 matches (2 wins, 1 draw) in a row without a loss.
Notably, Gimcheon's offensive power stood out in this match. After allowing an opening goal to Anyang, Gimcheon managed a comeback victory with consecutive goals from Lee Dong-kyung, Kim Seung-seop, and Yoo Gang-hyun. In addition, Gimcheon consistently pressured Anyang's goal, attempting 20 shots throughout the match. Although it is still early in the season, Gimcheon has scored 7 goals in 4 matches, leading K League 1 in total goals, with scoring spread across players such as Yoo Gang-hyun, Lee Dong-kyung (2 goals), Won Gi-jong, Park Sang-hyuk, and Kim Seung-seop (1 goal), which is also a strong point.
Meanwhile, Gimcheon will face Gwangju (6th place, 5 points) in the 5th round. Last season, Gimcheon had 2 wins and 1 loss against Gwangju, giving them a slight edge. The first match of the season between the two teams will be visible on the 16th (Sunday) at 4:30 p.m. at Gimcheon Sports Complex.
Player of the round: Ramos leading Daegu's early surge
Daegu lost 1-2 to Daejeon in the 4th round, ending their streak of 3 consecutive unbeaten matches (2 wins, 1 draw) since the season began, but Ramos shone with his performance by constantly threatening Daejeon's goal until the final moments.
Ramos first stepped onto the K League 1 stage with Daegu in the 2021 season, then transferred to Busan in the K League 2 midway through the 2022 season and played for 3 years until the 2024 season. Ramos excelled with 23 goals and 17 assists in 87 matches while at Busan and has already recorded 3 goals and 1 assist in 4 matches this season since returning to Daegu, showcasing his undiminished skills.
Ramos' value can be recognized through various attacking supplementary data. He ranks first in K League 1 for total shots (16), first for shots on target (5), third for successful forward passes in the attacking area (22), and fourth for successful passes (256), positioning himself among the top performers in several attacking data. Currently, Daegu ranks second in team goals (6) after Gimcheon; if domestic forwards like Jeong Jae-sang and Go Jae-hyun also contribute, Ramos' offensive power could be maximized.
Meanwhile, Daegu will meet Anyang in this round. In their head-to-head record, Anyang has a slight edge with 3 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses against Daegu. The first match of the season between Daegu and Anyang will be held on the 15th (Saturday) at 4:30 p.m. at Daegu iM Bank PARK.
Hana Bank K League 1 2025 5th round match schedule
Jeju: Daejeon [Mar. 15 (Saturday) 2 p.m. Jeju World Cup Stadium / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Gangwon: Seoul [Mar. 15 (Saturday) 4:30 p.m. Chuncheon Songam Sports Town / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Daegu: Anyang [Mar. 15 (Saturday) 4:30 p.m. Daegu iM Bank PARK / IB SPORTS, Coupang Play]
Suwon FC: Ulsan [Mar. 16 (Sunday) 2 p.m. Suwon Sports Complex / MBC, Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Gimcheon: Gwangju [Mar. 16 (Sunday) 4:30 p.m. Gimcheon Sports Complex / IB SPORTS, Coupang Play]
Jeonbuk: Pohang [Mar. 16 (Sunday) 4:30 p.m. Jeonju World Cup Stadium / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
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