2. Seongnam Ilhwa (5) vs Chunnam Dragons (9)

Long trip to the north for the visitors

After an indifferent run, Seongnam were starting to get their act back together before midweek with two straight wins and could actually have gone top if they had won at Seoul on Wednesday.

That didn’t happen and for the first time this season Seongnam failed to score as they were thrashed 4-0 in the capital. Seoul had few problems in dealing with Seongnam’s set pieces and the visitors posed little threat in attack. Coach Shin Tae-young accused his team of being asleep.

As such Seongnam will be very keen to bounce back from their biggest defeat in years but they also also have other things on their mind and entertain Gamba Osaka in the second round of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday. After that, the players can take a break. It remains to be seen if any stars are given a break after a hectic month. Suddenly, Mauricio Molina looks a little tired but he is so central to the team that he will be the key player this game.

Striker Song Ho-young is injured and will be absent this weekend.

Chunnam’s season is suddenly looking up after two straight wins – the latest an impressive 3-2 victory over champions Jeonbuk Motors.

Adrian Chuva is back and he scored on his return to show the fans what they had been missing without him this season.

The team will be without midfielder Kang Jin-kyu and striker Gong Yong-son, both not yet recovered.

Head to head, Seongnam have the better record in this match and have won four and drawn one of the last six meetings.

Chunnam need to travel a long way to the north after the hectic schedule and will be tired while Seongnam is determined to bounce back from the defeat. It looks like a home win.