Key Matches in the Key Races: Alternative K League 1 Round 27 Preview

The 2025 K League 1 season features key races despite Jeonbuk's 17-point lead at the top and Daegu FC's 17-point gap from safety. Only five points separate sixth from tenth place, and six points separate second from fifth heading into Round 27.

Daegu FC (12th) faces Jeju SK (10th) on Saturday, August 23rd. Both teams are struggling with relegation concerns, with Daegu on a 15-match winless run and Jeju having slipped into the bottom three after three winless games. A Daegu win could reduce their gap to 11th-place FC Anyang to nine points, while a Jeju victory might move them out of the drop zone. Daegu's last win was against Jeju in May.

FC Anyang (11th) plays Daejeon Hana Citizen (3rd) on Sunday, August 24th. This match impacts both relegation avoidance and ACL qualification races. Anyang is three points behind 10th place and five from safety, needing a win to avoid being cut adrift. Daejeon, after a poor performance and defeat to Gwangju FC, aims to revive their ACL hopes with a victory against a struggling opponent. Daejeon won the first meeting 2-1 and drew the second in 2025.

FC Seoul (5th) will face Ulsan HD (7th) in another key match of the round.