It’s hot from the start. It’s a battle between six points.
The final round A group match, which will determine the K League 1 championship and the qualification for the Asian Champions League (ACL) and Elite (ACLE), will be held from the 18th to the 20th starting with the 34th round. A match without concessions is expected between the team seeking to win the championship and the team looking at the Asian stage with a tighter competition than ever before.
The Pohang Steelers (51 points) and the sixth-ranked Suwon FC (49 points) will have a showdown at Pohang Steel Yard on Wednesday, the first day of the championship. If Suwon FC captures Pohang, chances are high that it will be in chaos to advance to the Asian stage.
Two direct tickets to the ACLE finals will be given to the winners of the K-League 1 and the Korea Cup. The qualification for the ACLE Playoff will be given to the second-ranked team in the K-League 1, followed by one ticket for the ACL 2. However, if the winner of the K-League is ranked fifth or lower in the league, the first and second-ranked teams in the K-League 1 will qualify for the ACLE finals. The third-ranked team will participate in the ACLE Playoff, and the winner of the Korea Cup will go to the ACL2.
For Pohang, the best scenario is to catch Suwon FC and re-enter the top-tier competition. 스포츠토토
Ulsan HD (61 points), the leader of the K League 1, and Gimcheon Sangmu (56 points), the runner-up, will have a showdown at Gimcheon Sports Complex on Sunday. This is a watershed moment in the championship race. If Ulsan wins, it can widen the gap to eight, and thus cross the five-division ridge for three consecutive losses. If Gimcheon wins, the gap narrows to two points at once, resulting in an unpredictable fight.
Attention is also focusing on third-ranked Gangwon FC (55 points) and fifth-ranked FC Seoul FC (50 points), which will take place at Gangneung Stadium on Tuesday. If Gangwon laughs, the race for second place will heat up at least. Depending on the result of the Ulsan-Gimcheon match, the three teams could compete for the title. If Seoul wins, it will also spark competition to qualify for the Asian Games.