Three things to keep tabs on this Sunday as the 2021 Hana 1Q K League 1 season reaches Round 24 and the last batch of fixtures before Final A and B.The race for the top six: Suwon Samsung Bluewings or Pohang Steelers
Only the top three teams in K League 1 head into the weekend's action knowing that their places in Final A are 100% secured. With just three points separating Suwon FC in fourth to Pohang Steelers in seventh, there are three spots that are very much still to play for. Suwon FC on 45 points take on Gwangju FC at home, a win for Kim Do-kyun's Suwon likely seals it given the team's superior goals scored tally. Jeju United on 44 points are at home to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, a win for the Islanders over current K League 1 champions seals a place in Final A but a defeat would open the door for the chasing pack, namely Suwon Bluewings and Pohang Steelers.
Suwon Bluewings on 42 points take on Daegu FC away while Pohang Steelers, also on 42 points, take on Incheon United at home. Pohang Steelers are in the most perilous position and need to better Suwon's result to ensure a place in Final A. However, should Jeju lose to Jeonbuk then it is possible for both Suwon Bluewings and Pohang to finish in the top six but only if the Bluewings also win.
Over the last seven seasons since 2014 in a 10-team K League 1, only on two occasions has a team that was sitting below sixth in the table heading into the final pre-split round gone onto finish in the top half; Sangju Samgu rose from eighth with a two-point deficit in 2016 and Jeju United in 2015 who also had a two-point gap to make up.
Who will be top of the table heading into Final A?
Ulsan Hyundai currently sit top of K League 1 and do so by just one point. In the last seven seasons, the team which sat top pre-split went on to seal the title on four occasions - all of which were Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
The team which has sat second pre-split has gone on to be crowned K League Champions on three occasions, Jeonbuk twice in 2019 and 2020 having made up a two-point deficit behind Ulsan in both seasons, and FC Seoul in 2016. For the third year in a row, it is Ulsan Hyundai who sit top of the table heading into Final A and so the Horangi will be hoping that it's third time lucky. This Sunday, Ulsan Hyundai are away to Seongnam FC while Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are away to Jeju United.
Which teams will be in the relegation zone heading into Final B?
Heading to Sunday's action Gwangju FC and Seongnam FC currently occupy the relegation places while FC Seoul sit in 10th, the final position of safety. Although it may seem like a psychological disadvantage to head into the final five matches of the season in the relegation zone, history has shown that it doesn't necessarily mean that relegation is definitely on the cards.
Since 2014, 12 of the 22 teams which could have mathematically headed into the split in the relegation zone have gone on to suffer relegation, 10 have survived. Last year, Busan IPark were 10th heading into the final pre-split round but ended up going down automatically, Incheon and Suwon Bluewings both escaped. Incheon escaped in 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Follow Sunday's action live tv.KLeague.com
[READ: 2021 K League 1 Round 24 Preview]
Paul Neat
Managing Editor
