FC Seoul — Pohang Steelers : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

FC Seoul’s Unique Pre-Match Circumstances

The capital club enters this fixture under highly specific conditions. Immediately following the final whistle, the team is set to pack their bags and journey to China for a crucial Asian Champions League encounter. It would be excessively taxing for FC Seoul to exert maximum effort in the match against Pohang prior to such an important away trip. This particular element fundamentally alters the pre-game dynamics.

Strategic Prioritization and League Standings

Furthermore, their current standing in the K League allows the Seoul-based club to approach this game without excessive pressure. FC Seoul has largely secured a spot within the top six, meaning even a defeat would not be disastrous given their robust goal difference. It is reasonable to anticipate that the coaching staff will opt to rest key players and avoid pushing the squad to their absolute limits, thereby preventing injuries and fatigue ahead of their significant international fixture.

Recent Form and Tactical Pragmatism

The team’s recent league performance also suggests a clear shift towards a more pragmatic approach. Their last two K League matches both concluded in 1-1 draws. This pattern indicates that FC Seoul is not actively forcing the play but rather focusing on accumulating points with minimal expenditure of energy, a strategy that aligns perfectly with the expectation of a low-scoring affair.

Pohang’s Persistent Attacking Woes

In stark contrast, Pohang Steelers are grappling with significant offensive challenges. The team has not managed to score more than one goal in a single match since their victory over Jeonbuk on August 24th – a damning statistic. Their attacking patterns have become overly simplistic and predictable, with the entire forward play seemingly revolving around a lone striker, Lee Ho-Jae.

Defensive Necessity Amidst Attacking Impotence

With other attacking resources failing to contribute significantly, and a crucial offensive player, Kim In-Sung, potentially sidelined due to injury, expecting a goal-scoring spectacle is unrealistic. Faced with such a blunt attack, the Steelers are left with only one viable strategy: to tighten up defensively. It is paramount for them to construct an impenetrable defensive wall and deny their opponents any significant space to operate.

Statistical Confirmation of Low-Scoring Trends

The statistics unequivocally support this defensive emphasis. According to the provided data, in Pohang’s last five consecutive away matches, there have been no more than two goals scored in total. Expanding this view, in 9 out of their last 11 games overall, the 2.5 total goals market has not been exceeded.