Key Matches in the Key Races: Alternative K League 1 Round 23 Preview

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. But what are the key matches in the key races in Round 23? An alternative preview looking ahead to 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 Round 23, the first round of fixtures of the third round robin of the season.

Top 4 Race

Ulsan HD vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen
Wednesday 23rd July 2025 - 19:30

Two teams, and two managers for that matter, who are in dire need of a win. Ulsan HD host Daejeon Hana Citizen on Wednesday night, looking to bounce back from the 1-0 away loss to FC Seoul, and put an end to a run of eight without victory in all competitions. The Horangi still have a game in hand, but have slipped to seventh place, 18 points behind Jeonbuk - unthinkable for a club that has dominated the league over the last three seasons. A fourth league title in a row seems farfetched at this point, but Kim Pan-gon and his team need to get back on track and secure AFC Champions League qualification for 2026-2027. Likewise, with Jeonbuk now 12 points clear, Daejeon's title dreams have been truly dashed.

Daejeon can't seem to stop drawing; five in a row heading into the match with Ulsan, and another could see them slip to third. Citizen's most recent draws saw them concede deep into injury time, first in the 96th minute at home to Jeju in Round 21 with Nam Tae-hee levelling, then twice against Gangwon with Mo Jae-hyeon and Kim Gun-hee bringing the Bears back from the dead. The two teams shared a win each from the two meetings this season. Daejeon will be looking to Hernandes, who, with a goal and two assists in four appearances for the Purples, looks to be back to his best, while Ulsan will be wondering if Marcao is ready to start. Certainly, the former K League 1 MVP and top scorer will, at the very least, be making a cameo off the bench. Both teams tend to win when taking the lead, so the first goal will be key, and both have high xG values - Ulsan with 33.8 (3rd) and Daejeon with 28.6 (5th), so there should be goals in this one.

K League TV: here [ENG]

Race for Final A

Gwangju FC vs. Gimcheon Sangmu
Tuesday 22nd July 2025 - 19:30

Hamstrung and unable to make any new signings, Gwangju FC are just quietly going about their business on the field, or at least they had been before the 2-1 reverse away to Suwon FC last time out. The Griffins saw the three points slip through their talons but what they still have in their grasp is sixth place, albeit having played a game more than Ulsan in seventh. There's no margin for error for Lee Jung-hyo's team as they look to return to winning ways. Before the loss to Suwon, Gwangju had been on a run of four unbeaten in all competitions.

Opponents on Tuesday, Gimcheon Sangmu, endured a slow second round robin, picking up just three wins compared to six in the first. But the army side remain in third, two points above FC Seoul, following a recent run of one loss in five with three wins. While Gimcheon can't qualify for the AFC Champions League, Chung Jung-yong's men will want to secure a top-four finish at the very least and the result of Tuesday's clash would have some impact on the race for continental qualification. Gimcheon aren't shot-shy, either, with 5.1 shots on target per match - the second highest in the league, and rank first for possession won per 90 in final third with 4.5, while Gwangju also score highly in that regard at 3.6 (5th), and fifth for touches in the box with 460. Expect the game to see lots of action in the final thirds.

K League TV: here [ENG]

Relegation Battle

FC Anyang vs. Daegu FC

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 - 19:30

In a game with huge relegation implications, FC Anyang take on Daegu FC this Tuesday night. FC Anyang have a 10-point cushion over the Sky Blues, who prop up the table, and are only three points from absolute safety. But after three straight losses, the Violets will be looking to their passionate supporters to help get them over the line. Ryu Byeong-hoon's men haven't won at home since April 26th, however, and are without a clean sheet since April 6th. Bruno Mota, with nine goals for the season, and Yago Cesar, with five assists, will be looked to for attacking impetus. 

Daegu's collapse at home to Gimcheon means they have an almighty hill to climb. Despite the best efforts of Cesinha over the last two games, who has three goals and an assist, Daegu were only able to add a point to their total. This puts them five points behind Suwon FC in 11th and 13 from absolute safety. All Cesinha and co. can do now is make sure the gap with Suwon doesn't get any bigger, and they start to be a bit more resolute at the back. Five goals conceded in second-half stoppage time is the joint highest in K League 1 (along with Pohang and Daejeon), but 10.4 interceptions per match is the highest but Tuesday's huge clash will be more about nerve and character.

K League TV: here

[OFFICIAL: 2025 K League 1 Round 23 Preview]

Worth a Mention...

Jeju SK hosting FC Seoul comes at a crucial juncture for both teams with the islanders now out of the bottom three and only three points behind Gangwon and four behind Ulsan, while the capital club have moved into the top four and are looking to be back on track.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors versus Gangwon FC is a match of the comeback kings from the previous round. The Green Warriors were 2-0 down but roared back to win 3-2, while Gangwon were able to salvage a draw after trailing by the same scoreline.

Suspensions

Vladislavs Gutkovskis, Daejeon Hana Citizen (one game)
Cheon Seong-hoon, Daejeon Hana Citizen (four games)
Kim Ju-sung, FC Seoul (one game)
Kim Jin-su, FC Seoul (one game)
Matheus Oliveira, FC Anyang (one game)

Ko Seung-beom, Ulsan HD (one game)
Tiago Orobo, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (one game)
Nam Tae-hee, Jeju SK (one game)
Oberdan, Pohang Steelers (one game)