In a marquee midweek clash, league leaders Gimcheon Sangmu host Suwon FC. The military side have been fantastic in 2024, and with just one defeat in their last 16 matches, they are showing the value of prolonged consistency. Last time out, Gimcheon were denied an away victory at Incheon thanks to a late Stefan Mugoša equaliser, though continued to show their improving attacking mettle with an xG of 1.23 from 13 attempts on goal, 38 positional attacks, and 17 attempted crosses.

Suwon, meanwhile, also managed a 1-1 draw this past Friday, with Kang Sang-yoon's goal securing an important point at home to reigning champions Ulsan HD. Now three unbeaten, Kim Eun-jung’s men remain firmly in fifth place, seven points clear of Seoul below them. This season, Suwon have slightly underperformed their xG (25 goals scored from an expected 29.3) but will be pleased by strengthening their defensive numbers massively compared to 2023, having conceded 27 times from an xGA of 26.94.

Back in Round 4, Gimcheon managed a 4-1 away victory in this fixture, marking their first triumph in five attempts against Suwon.

Delivering when required, Jeju United stood out in their 3-2 victory against FC Seoul through highlighting a more clinical slide to their game. The Islanders managed an xG of 1.32, got seven of their 18 attempts on target, and efficiently completed just 11 passes to the final third, while successfully dealing with opposition pressure by winning 47 of their 65 defensive duels, making 37 low recoveries, and 47 interceptions. With that win, Jeju have moved back into seventh, only a point away from the top half.

On Wednesday, Jeju travel to Jeonju when they face Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. The Green Warriors remain bottom following a 2-2 draw against Daejeon Hana Citizen, where they saw an initial two-goal lead slip away over the course of the final 25 minutes. Perhaps, then, that amplifies Jeonbuk’s defensive worries, where they lead the division in xGA (35.45) and shots against (296). Earlier in the season, Jeju won 2-0 against the Green Warriors, ending a five-game winless run for them in this fixture.

As Pohang Steelers continue to form what they hope will be a title challenge, 22-year-old winger Hong Yun-sang has stepped up to the plate as a noticeable asset in recent weeks. During the Steelers’ dramatic 3-3 draw with Daegu, the winger racked up a goal and assist, while winning seven of his 11 duels, completing two dribbles, four successful passes to the final third, and taking four touches in the opposition penalty area. After the aforementioned stalemate, Pohang have remained in third.

In Round 22 action, Pohang host Gangwon FC. The Bears made it back-to-back clean sheet victories with a 2-0 triumph over Gwangju on Sunday, where defensive improvements were evident as Yoon Jong-hwan’s men seek to remedy their leaky start to the campaign. However, the last meeting between these sides finished 4-2 to Pohang, who are now 10 unbeaten against the provincial club (six wins, four draws).

In a battle between two teams hopeful of changing their fortunes, Daegu FC face off with Incheon United. For the hosts, a 3-3 draw against Pohang Steelers kept them in 10th, though positives are there to be taken from creating an xG tally of 1.62 from 20 shots, making 14 accurate crosses, and having 37 positional attacks. Incheon, on the other hand, are now without the departing Jo Sung-hwan in the dugout, who oversaw a 1-1 stalemate with Gimcheon Sangmu in his final match in charge. That exact scoreline, as it turns out, is the same one Daegu and the Durumi managed when they met back in round seven.

Looking to maintain their title challenge, Ulsan HD host Gwangju FC. For the Horangi, they’re in relatively mixed form, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five league matches. A 1-1 draw against Suwon kept them in second place on Friday, yet you can never discount the team’s attacking quality in matches, given the team continue to average 1.8 goals scored per game. As for Gwangju, a 2-0 away defeat at Gangwon moved them down to eighth, with the most losses of any team in K League 1 (12) this year. But the last meeting in this fixture was a 2-1 Griffins victory, which makes it three successes in a row for them against Ulsan.

Rounding out the midweek action, FC Seoul go up against Daejeon Hana Citizen. The hosts suffered a setback in their resurgent burst of strong form via a 3-2 away defeat at Jeju, but the attacking principles shown (1.71 xG, seven shots on target, and 71 successful passes to the final third) should aid in being enough to give optimism that the club are staying on the right track. Daejeon, meanwhile, rescued a point at home to Jeonbuk on Sunday, with a 91st-minute Kim Jun-bum goal tying things up at 2-2. Winless in three, the Purples will be looking to lean on their good fortunes against Seoul since their promotion this Wednesday, given they have gone unbeaten in their last five in this fixture (three wins, two draws).

#DAEvINC: Daegu FC (10th) vs. Incheon United (9th)

#GIMvSUW: Gimcheon Sangmu (1st) vs. Suwon FC (5th)

#ULSvGWA: Ulsan HD FC (2nd) vs. Gwangju FC (8th)

#POHvGAN: Pohang Steelers (3rd) vs. Gangwon FC (4th)

#JEOvJEJ: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (12th) vs. Jeju United (7th)

#SEOvDHFC: FC Seoul (6th) vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen (11th)

Watch all matches live on TV.KLeague.com.