Key Matches in the Key Races: Alternative K League 1 Round 32 Preview

The 2025 K League 1 season can be broken into a handful of key races, perhaps even fewer, with the title race as good as sewn up. 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 32, the penultimate round before the split..

Race for the Top 4

Pohang Steelers (4th) vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen (3rd)

Sunday 5th October - 14:00 KST 

A key clash that could help determine which team finishes second, or at least who gets an AFC Champions League Elite spot. Pohang Steelers welcome Daejeon Hana Citizen to the Steel Yard this Sunday, looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Gimcheon last time out. It was an affair largely dominated by Gimcheon, with Pohang registering just four shots and only one on target for an xG of 0.22. A red card to Lee Dong-hee just before half time compounded matters, not to mention a disallowed Juninho Rocha goal at 0-0.

Daejeon drew 0-0 with Gangwon to secure a spot in Final A, but weren't in the mood to celebrate having spurned a number of opportunities. Hwang Sun-hong's men had 18 shots, but only two found the target. The Purples can, however, now focus on their ultimate goal of a place in the Champions League. Just a point separates the two teams, and both have similar recent form of two wins, two losses, and one draw from their last five. The two teams met at the Steel Yard for the season curtain-raiser, with Daejeon securing a 3-0 win, but when they last locked horns, Pohang came back from behind to earn a 3-1 win at Purple Arena. Both teams will need to rediscover their goal-scoring touch. Pohang land, on average, 4.2 shots on target per match; Daejeon 4.0, but it's Citizen who have the better shot conversion rate (12.2% to 9.7%).

Watch live on K League TV [ENG]: here

[INTERVIEW: The Lee Ho-jae Catch-up Interview]

Race for Final A

Gangwon FC (7th) vs. FC Anyang (8th)

Sunday 5th October, 16:30 KST

After defeat in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday, and with no more continental commitments until after the split, Gangwon FC can now get back to their mission of securing a place in Final A. The Bears sit seventh but level on points with Gwangju in sixth heading into Round 32. The penultimate round before the split brings the visit of FC Anyang, a side that is at something of a crossroads. With six points still to play for and a four-point gap, it is still mathematically possible for the Violets to sneak into Final A, while in the other direction, more pressingly, the gap above the bottom three is just a point. Both teams are in decent form, with Gangwon having lost just once in their last five, earning three wins in the process. Anyang are unbeaten in five, with three wins and two draws. Anyang picked up all three points in each of the two previous meetings this season, 3-1 away from home in May and 2-0 at home in April.

Watch live on K League TV: here

[READ: K League 1 Round 31 Wrap-up]

Relegation Battle

Gwangju FC (6th) vs. Daegu FC (12th)

Saturday 4th October, 14:00

Daegu FC are doing their utmost to pull off the greatest of great escapes with a late-season surge in form. The Sky Blues came close to beating Ulsan HD last time out, and had it not been for a disallowed Cesinha goal, Kim Byung-soo's men would've taken all three points. A draw, coupled with Jeju's loss to Suwon FC, means the gap has been shaved down slightly to eight points. Psychologically, a single-digit gap may just give Daegu the extra incentive to claw their way out of the automatic relegation spot. Daegu have just one loss from their last five, with two wins and two draws, but this weekend face a side in Gwangju FC that's looking to seal a place in Final A. The last meeting between the two this season ended in a 1-1 draw, while the first ended in a 2-1 Gwangju win. Daegu will once again be looking to Cesinha for inspiration. The living legend has eight goals and nine assists in 20 appearances this season, including five assists and two goals in his last five outings. Daegu's skipper scored in the April 9th meeting.

Watch live on K League TV [ENG]: here

[PATREON: Ishida Masatoshi Interview]

Where to Watch

Watch all matches live and for free on TV.KLeague.com. English commentary provided where indicated.

Suspensions

Ko Seung-beom, Ulsan HD (one match)
Kim Tae-hwan, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (one match)

Kim Dong-jun, Jeju SK (two matches)
Song Ju-hun, Jeju SK (two matches)
An Tae-hyun, Jeju SK (one match)

Lee Chang-min, Jeju SK (two matches
Shin Kwang-hoon, Pohang Steelers (one match)

Lee Dong-hee, Pohang Steelers (two matches)