The 2025 K League 1 season can be broken into a handful of key races, perhaps even fewer for those who see the title race more or less sewn up, and the automatic relegation spot firmly in one team’s hands. But what are the key matches in the key races this weekend? An alternative preview looking ahead to 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 Round 29.
Race for Final A
Gangwon FC (7th) vs. FC Seoul (5th)
Saturday 13th September – 19:00 KST
Gangwon FC’s back-to-back 1-0 wins, first over Gwangju then over Pohang, have seen the Bears claw their way away from the relegation zone and level on points with sixth place. Jeong Kyung-ho’s men are also only two points behind this Saturday’s opponents, FC Seoul. Gangwon, Gwangju, and Seoul are a trio of teams that are heading into a crucial part of the season, and one that will determine how the rest of the season will unfold. A solid end to the regular season, and it could be AFC Champions League qualification, while a dip in form could see them slip into Final B.
Saturday’s clash between Gangwon and FC Seoul is crucial for both teams. Gangwon are at a crossroads, with their next result crucial to determining their pre-split fate. Seoul are finding it difficult to put together a string of results and lost at home to FC Anyang last time out, leaving Kim Gi-dong’s capital club closer to Final B than ACLE and in need of consistency. From the two previous meetings this season, Seoul earned a 1-0 away win in Round 5, before the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in Round 19.
[READ: Who are Gangwon FC? Ex-players have their say]
Relegation Battle
FC Anyang (9th) vs. Jeju SK (11th)
Sunday 14th September – 19:00 KST
FC Anyang have their heads above water, moving out of the relegation zone. Back-to-back wins ensured that, first over Daejeon Hana Citizen 3-2 at home, then FC Seoul 2-1 away. A huge boost psychologically, the onus is now on the Violets to build momentum and ensure that they preserve their top-flight status. Jeju SK, on the other hand, are in poor form and last tasted victory six matches ago. Kim Hak-bum’s side have slipped to second bottom, and the manner of their most recent loss – a 91st-minute Gwangju winner – could prove damaging. Needless to say, this Sunday’s clash is a huge relegation six-pointer. A Jeju win could move them out of the bottom three, while an Anyang win would at least mean a more comfortable cushion over 11th place.
K League TV stream (ENG): here
Suwon FC (10th) vs. Gwangju FC (6th)
Sunday 14th September – 19:00 KST
Suwon FC’s revival seems to have been put on hold for the time being. Back-to-back losses have seen the Castle Park side slip back into the bottom three. But both of those losses came away from home. Suwon now head into back-to-back home games against beatable opposition. First up is Gwangju FC this Sunday, a side that seems to be able to pick up wins when it becomes imperative to do so and will prove to be a tough test. However, the most recent meeting between the two sides, however, ended in a 2-1 Suwon FC win.
Worth a mention…
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (1st) vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen (3rd)
Saturday 14th September – 19:00 KST
First hosting third, Jeonbuk versus Daejeon, is one of the standout matches of Round 29. Jeonbuk are marching towards the title with a 17-point cushion over second. Eyes are now on whether Jeonbuk can win the title before the split. Daejeon, meanwhile, are struggling to put together a run of results and have a habit of not being able to build on what the Purples were hoping were turning point wins. Eyes will be on whether Hwang Sun-hong’s men can build on their home win over Gimcheon and extend their impressive recent record at Jeonju Castle. Daejeon are unbeaten in Jeonju since returning to K League 1 in 2023.
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