Jeonbuk to face Daegu in Champions League round of 16

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Deagu FC will face off Thursday at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Urawa, Japan in a Champions League round of 16 match to decide which team will be the sole Korean representative in the quarterfinals of the continental tournament

Hong Jeong-ho celebrates scoring Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' first goal in a match against Daegu FC on Nov. 28, 2021 at Daegu Bank Park in Daegu. [K LEAGUE]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Deagu FC will face off Thursday at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Urawa, Japan in an AFC Champions League round of 16 match to decide which team will be the sole Korean representative in the quarterfinals of the continental tournament.

Jeonbuk enter the match with a prestigious Champions League record, having qualified for the tournament 15 times and won it twice, in 2006 and 2016.

The North Jeolla side has reached the quarterfinals last year, after beating Thai club BG Pathum United in the round of 16.

Jeonbuk advance to the round of 16 this year after a fairly lackluster group campaign, winning only one leg of each of the three group stage match-ups to finish second in Group H — a 0-0 draw and a 3-2 win against Australian side Sydney FC, a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 win against Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos, and a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw against Vietnamese side Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.

Daegu FC's Cesinha poses after scoring the equalizer in an AFC Champions League group stage game against Buriram United at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu on March 15. [YONHAP]

Daegu have far less experience in the continental tournament, qualifying only three times: In 2019, 2021 and this year. After crashing out in the group stage in 2019, Daegu made it to the round of 16 last year, but lost to Japanese club Nagoya Grampus.

Daegu had a more explosive group stage, racking up some big wins to top Group F. Daegu took two wins against Chinese club Shandong Taishan — 4-0, 7-0 — won one and lost one against Singaporean club Lion City Sailors — 0-3, 2-1 — and won one and drew one against Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds — 1-0, 0-0.

Although Jeonbuk and Daegu have never met in the Champions League, as K League rivals they have a long head-to-head history. Over 49 games, Jeonbuk have a clear upper hand with 29 wins to Daegu’s nine. The two clubs have played to a draw 11 times.

But a look at more recent history suggests that Daegu offer a much tougher challenge this year than they used to, with both K League match-ups this year — on June 25 and Feb. 27 — ending in 1-1 draws. Last year was also evenly split — Jeonbuk beat Daegu 3-2 on March 16, only to lose 1-0 when they met for a second time on May 23.

But Daegu enter this round of 16 clash in the middle of a rough slump, having not one a game since June. The club’s most recent loss — a 4-0 shutout against league leaders Ulsan — proved to be the final nail in the coffin for manager Alexandre Gama, who resigned on Sunday.

Gama, who only joined the club this year, voluntarily stepped down following the club's poor performance, according to a statement from Daegu FC. His departure comes at a difficult time, with Choi Won-kwon left to take over as interim manager just days ahead of the Champions League clash.

Jeonbuk also have not been on particularly strong form lately, losing their most recent game 3-1 to Incheon United on Saturday. But despite a few bad results, Jeonbuk remain in second place in the K League, far above Daegu in ninth.

The Jeonbuk-Daegu clash is not the only round of 16 game on Thursday, with Japanese clubs Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos also facing off. The two other round of 16 games in the east region — BG Pathum United vs. Kitchee and Johor Darul Ta'zim against the Urawa Red Diamonds — will be played on Friday.

On the western side of the bracket, Al Hilal will face Shabab Al-Ahli, Al-Shabab will take on Nasaf Qarshi, Al-Duhail will play Al-Rayyan and Al-Faisaly will face Foolad. Those games will be played in early February next year.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]