2025 K League 2 Playoff Race Watch: Alternative Round 27 Preview

With the third and final round robin of the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season about to begin, the race for the playoffs gathers pace. With four playoff spots up for grabs, at least seven teams will feel as though they have a genuine chance of extending their season. What are the key matches in the playoff race this season?

Key Playoff Race Matches

Busan IPark (5th) vs. Chungbuk Cheongju (11th)

Saturday 30th August - 19:00

Busan IPark currently hold the spot that so many other teams are trying to grasp onto. The Royals are fifth in the table, the backdoor into the playoffs, as they look to seal a return to K League 1 for the first time in five years. For the likes of Seoul E-Land, Gimpo FC, and Seongnam, after a less-than-ideal middle part of the season, fifth place would represent a successful campaign. But it's Jo Sung-hwan's men who have their destiny in their own hands, albeit with a long way still to go. Busan's three-point cushion over the chasing pack is preserved thanks to back-to-back wins, first against Cheonan City, and then against Chungnam Asan - both by the same 1-0 scoreline, and against teams in the lower reaches of the table. They face another team that's nearer to the wooden spoon battle than the playoff race, Chungbuk Cheongju this Saturday, and will see the visit of the Lions as a chance to make it three wins on the spin.

K League TV: here

[OFFICIAL: K League 2 Round 27 Preview]

Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd) vs. Seongnam FC (8th)

Saturday 30th August - 19:00

With the gap with league leaders Incheon back to double digits, Suwon Bluewings now just need to make sure that second place is theirs, securing a direct playoff with 11th in K League 1. The Bluewings will need to return to form, though, having drawn with Hwaseong last time out and lost to Gimpo the week before. This Saturday, Suwon face a resurgent Seongnam FC side that now harbours genuine hopes of reaching the playoffs, having clawed themselves to within three points of the top five. The Magpies are on an unbeaten run of eight and head into the trip to Big Bird on the back of two straight wins, including one over Incheon in the round before last. They have, however, lost both matches with the Bluewings this season.

K League TV: here

Cheonan City (13th) vs. Seoul E-Land (6th)

Sunday 31st August - 19:00

Last season's playoff finalists, Seoul E-Land, are in contention for a place in the K League 2 post-season this year too, but have work to do first. The Leopards have drawn their last four in a row and sit one place and three points outside the top five heading into Round 28. Turning draws into wins will be Kim Do-kyun's first priority, particularly with Seoul E-Land's next match being against second-bottom Cheonan City, a side they lost 4-2 against in Round 17.

K League TV: here

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

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.

Suspensions

Henan, Gyeongnam FC

Ko Jeong-woon, Gimpo FC (touchline ban)
Cheon Ji-won, Gimpo FC
Cho Wi-je, Busan IPark
Byun Kyung-joon, Seoul E-Land
Jeong Seung-yong, Seongnam FC
Lee Sang-young, Cheonan City
Yoon Hyun-pil, Hwaseong FC (touchline ban)