Making their third successive appearance in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors host Ulsan Hyundai in leg one of that tie on Tuesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
The side from North Jeolla Province won their last 16 tie versus Pohang Steelers 3-1 on aggregate, while Ulsan eliminated Ventforet Kofu by a cumulative score of 5-1.
Match preview
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As we have come to expect, Jeonbuk are still in the hunt for the Champions League title thanks to a solid 2-0 victory in their opening knockout stage fixture.
Dan Petrescu's men enter this match with a 100% record at home in this competition, scoring multiple goals in each of those encounters.
While this side have made the knockout stage in five of the last six editions of this tournament, they have made the semi-finals just once over that span (2021-22).
After losing two of their three fixtures to begin the year, Jeonbuk are unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions.
Thankfully, those two defeats were club friendlies, while they have yet to lose a competitive match at home against a side from Asia since a K League 1 fixture in September 2023 (3-1 versus Daegu).
Jeonbuk have not lost a knockout fixture when scoring the opening goal since squandering an early 1-0 lead versus Shanghai SIPG and losing in a shootout in 2018-19.
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Ulsan Hyundai enter this contest on a good run of form, unbeaten in their last six competitive matches and winners of three in a row.
After some inconsistent performances in the early stages of Champions League group play Hong Myung-bo saw his side pick up steam with points in three of their last four group fixtures.
This side have a 100% record when scoring first in this season's competition, netting multiple times in each of those encounters.
From early October until November 24 of last year, they lost four successive matches away from home in all competitions but have since won two in a row.
They began defence of their K League 1 title well, defeating Pohang Steelers 1-0 at the end of February, and they are one of four teams in that competition that won their opening match.
Ulsan Hyundai have never been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of this tournament, knocking out Jeonbuk in extra-time at that stage 3-2 in 2020-21.
Team News
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Jeonbuk could be without their leading goalscorer at this tournament, Hernandes, who suffered a leg injury in mid-February, while Kwan Chang-hoon is dealing with a sore heel.
Rodrigues and Ahn Hyeon-beom scored in their opening leg victory last round as Kim Jeong-hoon collected a clean sheet in a 2-0 triumph, while Jeong Tae-wook notched their only strike in leg two as they played to a 1-1 draw.
Ulsan will likely be missing Darijan Bojanic for this encounter, with the Swedish midfielder suffering an unknown injury in early November.
Joo Min-kyu scored in both legs of their round of 16 tie, including the winner in the second fixture, on a night when Kim Ji-hyeon also netted in a 2-1 win.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors possible starting lineup:
Jeong-hoon; Tae-hwan, Jeong-ho, Jin-seop, Jin-su; Dong-jun, Seong-ung, Seon-min, Dong-jun; Kyo-won, Orobo
Ulsan Hyundai possible starting lineup:
Hyeon-woo; Young-woo, Kee-hee, Young-gwon, Myung-jae; Esaka, Sang-jun; Won-sang, Dong-gyeong, Ludwigson; Adam
We say: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-2 Ulsan Hyundai
Ulsan Motors have never lost to Jeonbuk away from home in this competition, and we expect their improved form in front of goal and experience in this round will power them through.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
