The most enigmatic of today's Top 8 matches is undoubtedly the Battle of the Bumper, with Jeonbuk Motors and Ulsan HD battling it out.
Jeonbuk Motors successfully defeated Pohang Steelers in the last round, and their momentum this season should not be underestimated. Their defense is like a rock, their two core players are outstanding, their corner kick attack is like a tiger, and their midfield is well organized.
On the attacking end, former Ulsan HD winger Lee Dong-jun may pose a huge threat with his speed advantage, as he will be paired with Kim Tae-hwan, the Korean national team's star right back. This key position is crucial as they strive to tear through opposing defenses and feed shells to striker Aurubo.
The right side of Ulsan HD is also not to be ignored. Ahn Won was a revelation on the wing in the previous round's win over Kofu Fung Lam. It will be a tit-for-tat matchup against South Korea's main left back, Seol Young-woo.
On the attacking line, Cho Min-gyu, despite his impressive performance in the domestic league, has not been impressive in the AFC Champions League until the last round when he scored 3 goals in 2 rounds against Kofu Fung Lam. Once he gets a chance to attack inside the box, the goalscorer is likely to play with a superb scoring touch, and I'm confident that he's capable of converting chances into goals.
With this in mind, I think the role of the wingers of both teams is crucial. In other words, the goalkeepers of both teams need to be at their best to stop the other team from breaking through the back line and to pass the ball skillfully to the forwards.
Given the equal strength and experience of both sides, I predict that the first leg will end in a draw.
