In the “Hana Bank K League 1 2024,” fierce competition is taking place more than ever. The final round groups A and B will be determined after playing five more games per team. The 1st to 6th places will be classified as Final A, and the 7th to 12th places will be classified as Final B, with five more games per team to determine the final ranking for this season.
It is a season in which the difference between the top and bottom teams is not large. The first to sixth places all have the championship in sight, and none of the teams in the seventh to 12th places is safe from relegation. We have no choice but to risk our lives and losses in the remaining games.
Currently, Gangwon FC (50 wins, 15 draws, 5 losses, 50 points) is leading the way, but Ulsan HD (14 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses, 48 points), third-ranked Suwon FC (14 wins, 5 draws, 9 losses), and fourth-ranked Gimcheon Sangmu (13 wins, 8 draws, 7 losses, 47 points or more) are closely chasing within three points difference. FC Seoul (13 wins, 6 draws, 9 losses, 45 points), ranked fifth in the league with five consecutive wins, and Pohang Steelers (128 wins, 8 losses, 44 points), ranked sixth, who are slowing down for a while, are still too early to give up their throne.
There is no “final first place” this season. Unlike last year, when Ulsan booked the championship early by widening the score gap with second-ranked Pohang to 12, it has yet to see an overwhelming No. 1 ranking this year. Of course, Gangwon, which has maintained its lead from the beginning of the season, is trying to firmly maintain its current position, but failed to beat its pursuers by losing 0-2 to Seoul in an away game on Monday.
At the bottom of the standings, as many as six teams are struggling to stay. Incheon United (6 wins, 10 draws, 12 losses, 28 points) has fallen to the bottom of the immediate relegation zone, and is on fire. However, considering the difference in points between Gwangju FC (12 wins, 1 draw and 15 losses, 37 points), which ranks seventh and Jeju United (10 wins, 2 draws, 16 losses, 32 points), which ranks eighth, cannot be reassured. Even if the team avoids the 12th place, it will have to secure at least the 9th place for safe stay, as the 11th place will have to compete for promotion to the second place in the K League and the 10th place will have to face the winner of the K League 2 promotion PO. 먹튀검증
Daegu FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai, which had shown sluggish performance, have recently won two consecutive games, changing the mood. They have advanced to ninth place (7 wins, 9 draws and 12 losses, 30 points) and 10th place (7 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses, 29 points), respectively. Daejeon Hana Citizen (6 wins, 10 draws and 12 losses, 28 points), which is ranking 11th, is also on an unbeaten streak in four recent matches, heralding a change in perception of demotion. Daegu, Jeonbuk, and Daejeon Hana, which were at the bottom until the middle of this season, are showing signs of rebounding, fueling tension in the mid-range as well.