2025 K League 2 Promotion Race Watch: Alternative Round 36 Preview | OneFootball

With the third and final round robin of the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season now nearing the end, the race for the playoffs and promotion as a whole is reaching the final furlong. With four playoff spots up for grabs, at least seven teams will feel as though they have a genuine chance of extending their seasons. What are some of the key matches in the promotion race as the season reaches Round 36?

Key Promotion Race Matches

Busan IPark (7th) vs. Gimpo FC (8th)Saturday 25th October - 16:30

After first breaking into the top five in Round 10, Busan IPark had more or less, apart from a couple of weeks in sixth, remained in the playoff positions right up until Round 33. However, back-to-back losses and a run of five without a win have seen the south coast side slip to seventh place and in danger of missing out on the playoffs. A 3-0 loss to Seoul E-Land last weekend meant a gap of four points. With four games to go, the Royals simply have to return to form. Gimpo FC, meanwhile, have spent just three weeks in the top five, first in the very early stages of the season, then just two rounds ago. Since then, Gimpo have lost two on the spin to slip back down to eighth, four points behind fifth, leaving Ko Jeong-woon and his men work to do to extend their season beyond Round 39.

Busan versus Gimpo this Saturday will be a chance for both teams to return to winning ways and take points off a playoff rival. Gimpo's watertight defence will give them a good foundation, but the Gyeonggi Province side's attacking players will need to fare better at the other end, with the team ranking ninth for shots on target per match (3.8). Busan are in the top four in that regard with 4.5, and rank first for possession won in the final third per match (3.5). Gimpo are unbeaten in this fixture in five, with three wins and two draws. The most recent meeting in July ended in a 3-0 Gimpo win, while the two Gudeok meetings ended 0-0.

Chungbuk Cheongju (13th) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd)

Saturday 25th October - 16:30

With four games to go and a seven-point lead over sixth, Bucheon FC 1995 look set for another playoff campaign. Always the bridesmaids and never the brides, Bucheon will be hoping it's the fifth time's the charm in 2025. The Reds haven't finished as high as third since 2016, but with a mere one-point lead over Jeonnam in fifth, Bucheon have very little margin for error. Bucheon are in good form, having won three on the bounce heading into Round 36. All three wins have been by a single goal margin, though, which could be seen as Bucheon finding a way to win, grinding out results. In their last three wins, Bucheon averaged 55% possession, 13.6 shots per match, with 5.7 on target. These figures are skewed slightly by the 37% possession, eight shots, and three on target when down to 10 men in the 1-0 win over Seongnam. Bucheon travel to North Chungcheong this weekend to take on Chungbuk Cheongju, a side they've beaten twice already this season.

Seoul E-Land (5th) vs. Chungnam Asan (9th)

Sunday 26th October - 16:30

A place in the playoffs is now in Seoul E-Land's hands. A statement 3-0 win over Busan IPark last time out now means that the Leopards sit fifth and with a three-point buffer over sixth. Seoul E-Land are the form team among the sides chasing fifth place, unbeaten in six with three draws and just one loss in 14. A tough test awaits Kim Do-kyun's men this Sunday, though, with Chungnam Asan in decent form as well. The Owls have won their last three on the spin and are unbeaten in four, and mathematically still have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs.

[READ: Alternative K League 1 R34 Preview]

Worth a mention...

Incheon United (1st) vs. Gyeongnam FC (11th)

Sunday 26th October - 14:00

Simply put, if Incheon United beat Gyeongnam FC at home this Saturday, and Suwon Bluewings lose or draw to Jeonnam Dragons, they will be crowned champions. It would be a fitting way to cap off Incheon's pursuit of promotion, having begun the 2025 campaign with a 2-0 home win over Gyeongnam. The Roses are without a win in three and haven't scored in their last two matches.

K League 2 Playoffs - How do they work?

Second place, or the K League 2 runners-up, will face 11th in K League 1 in a two-leg playoff. The winners will play in K League 1 next season, the losers will play in K League 2. As things stand, this would mean Jeju SK facing Suwon Samsung Bluewings for a place in the top flight in 2026.

Third down to fifth will compete to face 10th in K League 1. Third will get a bye of sorts to the next round, then fourth play fifth over one leg, with fourth at home and only needing a draw. Third faces the winners of fourth versus fifth over one leg, again with the home team only needing a draw. The winners of that contest then face 10th in K League 1 over two legs.

As things stand heading into the weekend, this would mean Jeonnam hosting Seoul E-Land to earn the right to face Bucheon, who would then go toe-to-toe to earn a playoff with Suwon FC.

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