Jeonbuk Motors — Gimcheon Sangmu : Match Preview and Prediction for October 27,2024

Jeonbuk’s Achieved Goal

The season’s primary objective has been fulfilled. The championship title is secured, and it was achieved ahead of schedule, with five rounds remaining. Jeonbuk officially clinched their 10th historical title on October 18th, following a 2-0 victory over Suwon and Gimcheon’s 1-4 defeat to Anyang. This accomplishment is a crucial factor that cannot be overlooked.

Focus Shift to Cup Final

Head coach Gus Poyet has openly stated that maintaining the necessary level of concentration among his players after such a decisive victory will be challenging. All primary goals have shifted to the Korean FA Cup final, scheduled for December 6th. This particular match against Gimcheon is merely the first in the final championship round, not a crucial preparation for the upcoming cup battle.

Anticipated Squad Rotation

Poyet has also announced planned changes to the starting lineup. He intends to give an opportunity to those who have played less this season, which is a logical approach given the current circumstances. Even one or two changes can disrupt team chemistry, especially when the main objective has already been reached. Furthermore, the official championship trophy presentation ceremony is not scheduled until November 8th, so there won’t be a celebratory atmosphere spurring them on to a dominant win.

Gimcheon’s High Stakes

Gimcheon, on the other hand, presents a completely different narrative. The team currently holds second place but shares the same 55 points as Daejeon Citizen. Every point is invaluable in their battle for silver medals, so there’s no room for complacency here. The “Army team” is pursuing a very specific tournament goal: to secure second place, which would represent a historic achievement for them.

Farewell Match for Key Players

This match holds particular significance for Gimcheon because it will be the final game for an entire group of key players from the 9th enlistment cycle, who conclude their service and return to their respective clubs on October 28th. This includes vital leaders such as MVP candidate Lee Dong Gyeong and captain Kim Seung Sop. This is their farewell match, and the coaching staff will undoubtedly field the strongest possible lineup available at this moment.

Recent Victory and Strong Form

Most importantly, the previous head-to-head encounter between these two teams took place just over a month ago, on September 20th. On that occasion, Gimcheon Sangmu defeated Jeonbuk 2-1 away from home. They already know how to beat this formidable opponent on their turf. Statistics also favor them: Gimcheon has avoided defeat in 13 of their last 17 matches.