2025 K League 2 Playoff Race Watch: Alternative Round 32 Preview

With the third and final round robin of the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season now well underway, the race for the playoffs and promotion as a whole 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 seasons. What are the key matches in the promotion race during this three-day weekend as the season reaches Round 32?

Key Promotion Race Matches

Seongnam FC (6th) vs. Seoul E-Land (8th)

Friday 3rd October, 14:00

A draw with Gimpo FC last weekend extended Seongnam FC's unbeaten run to 13 matches, with Jeon Kyung-jun's side seemingly finding form at the right time. But with results elsewhere not going their way, the Magpies dropped out of the playoff spots. Seoul E-Land also drew last time out, meaning there's work to be done for the Leopards to claw their way into a second playoff berth in as many seasons. The long weekend of K League 2 action begins with the Magpies versus the Leopards, a huge clash in the context of this very close race for the playoffs. Seoul E-Land sit eighth in K League 2 but just three points behind Seongnam, and with a much superior goals scored total, meaning a win would see them overtake their capital region counterparts. Seoul are on a run of three matches without a win, however, following a defeat and back-to-back draws. Each team has picked up a win over the other in this fixture this season, with the away side winning on both occasions.

Seongnam are joint-second for clean sheets with 15, and have the second-lowest goals against tally. Seoul E-Land, on the other hand, perhaps typical for a Kim Do-kyun team, have conceded a lot (41, 6th highest) but have also scored a healthy number of goals (45, 5th)

Watch live on K League TV: here

[OFFICIAL: 2025 K League 2 Round 32 Preview]

Suwon Bluewings (2nd) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd)

Saturday 4th October, 14:00

Suwon Bluewings probably, realistically, have second place more or less sewn up, sitting nine points clear of third. But lurking behind them is a Bucheon FC 1995 side that still harbours hopes of leapfrogging the Bluewings. Saturday's clash at Big Bird could be seen as the second-place decider for the hosts, while Bucheon would see the match as a chance to put the pressure on Suwon, as well as keep their grasp on third place. A run of three without a win with two losses means that Bucheon remain third but only on goals scored, having bagged just a goal more than Jeonnam in fourth. Furthermore, with just two points separating third to seventh, no team currently in the playoff places can afford to drop points. Bluewings tend to have a lot of the ball, having racked up the third-highest average possession with 53.4%, and will likely do so this weekend, being at home. They have also had the most shots on target per 90 with five. Bucheon are also among the league's top scorers, and sit second for shots on target per 90 with 4.6. The Bluewings ran out 4-1 winners in the last meeting on June 1st, following a 1-1 draw in April. 

Watch live on K League TV: here

[READ: Potential play-off fixtures to get excited for]

Gimpo FC (7th) vs. Ansan Greeners (14th)

Saturday 4th October, 14:00

A draw may not have been the result Gimpo FC wanted, but the stalemate with Seongnam extended the team's impressive run of form to just one loss in 13. Gimpo sit just two points outside the playoffs, so will know that they simply have to win to make sure that the gap stays within touching distance at the very least. Coming up this weekend is a very favourable fixture, basement side Ansan Greeners at home. The toothless Green Wolves are managerless and on a run of 16 without a win. Gimpo have one of the best defensive records in the division, with the third-lowest goals against total and the second-highest number of clean sheets, but just need to start landing more shots on target with Ko Jeong-woon's men sitting ninth in the division in that regard per 90 with four. 

Watch live on 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