Secret Matches in the Secret Races: Alternative K League 1

The 2025 K League 1 season can be gotten into a handful of essential races, maybe even fewer for those who see the title race basically finish, and the automatic relegation area firmly in one team’s hands. However what are the essential matches in the crucial races this weekend? An alternative preview looking ahead to 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 Round 27.

Jeonbuk may be 17 points clear at the top of the table, and Daegu FC may be 17 points adrift from outright safety, but there’s still plenty to play for in K League 1 this season. Just five points different sixth from 10th heading into Round 27, and six separate second from fifth.Daegu FC(12th)vs. Jeju SK (10th) Saturday 23rd August-19:00 If Daegu FC are to end their run of

15 matches without a win, then it’s probably to be against a team that also has transfer concerns. The Sky Blues deal with a Jeju SK side this Saturday that has slipped into the bottom 3 following a run of 3 without a win. This is a contest that will have an effect on the transfer playoff locations and Daegu’s bid to avoid falling straight through the trap door. The Sky Blues are 12 points behind FC Anyang in 11th heading into the weekend and just can not pay for to let that space expand if Kim Byung-soo and his team are to buy themselves a stay of execution in the playoffs. Jeju, on the other hand, can ill afford to let their winless run extend much even more with Suwon FC’s upturn in kind coming at the wrong time for the islanders. A Jeju win could see them vacate the drop zone, while a Daegu win would close the gap to 9 points, albeit perhaps just for a moment with Anyang in action 24 hours later on. Daegu’s last win came against Jeju at home back in May.FC Anyang(11th )vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen(3rd )Sunday 24th August- 19:00 The Violets against the Purples is a component that will have an influence on two different crucial races-

the race to prevent transfer and the

race to ACL credentials. FC Anyang’s poor run of form has seen them drop to second bottom of the table, three points behind 10th and five from outright security. If Anyang are not mindful, they might end up being cut adrift and resigned to needing to run the gauntlet of the playoffs. A big increase for Anyang is the news that Kwon Kyung-won won’t be suspended after all, after his red card in the loss to Pohang last time out was rescinded. Daejeon, on the other hand, suffered a dismal defeat to Gwangju FC last time out. The efficiency was so alarming that it prompted boos from the taking a trip support and left the players broaching a crisis in the dressing space afterwards. Daejeon, nowadays worn jade, look jaded and need to start to create a run of results to get their ACL push back on track. A win against a team in the bottom 3 will be viewed as an absolute must. Daejeon beat Anyang in the first meeting of 2025, albeit only just at 2-1, then had to go for a draw in the second.FC Seoul( 5th)vs. Ulsan HD (7th )Sunday 24th August-19:00 Whether is match might be seen as becoming part of the race for ACL or simply the leading 6 is up for dispute, given the current kind of both groups. Seoul, in 5th

, are now 6 points behind second, 5 behind 3rd and what would likely be automatic certification for the ACLE. Ulsan, after a 3rd loss in five last time out, sit in the bottom half. Seoul suffered a shock 6-2 loss to Gimcheon Sangmu last time out, a match that state Kim Gi-dong’s side returned from 2-0 down to draw level just to then go behind once again before half time. Gimcheon had the ability to score six from just eight shots on target. Seoul really had more of the ball and more shots than Gimcheon, but protective lapses and goalkeeping mistakes condemned the capital side to defeat.Both sets of players will be suffering from dips in confidence, and both will see Sunday’s match as a must-win. It’s a contest between the two sides with the most possession, with Seoul on

53.6 %and Ulsan on 59.35. The 2 sides also being in the top two for xG, with Seoul at 44.2 and Ulsan and 43, and in the leading three for big chances, with Seoul having actually produced 59 and Ulsan 50. Seoul won the last meeting in between the 2, which was their very first against the Horangi considering that October 2017, thanks to a goal of the season contender from Jesse Lingard.