K LEAGUE

2023 Hana 1Q K League 2 Round 26 Preview

league 2023.08.11 I hits 1469

How the table will look after Round 26 is anyone's guess with the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 2 season one of the most captivating and closely contested yet. The action starts on Saturday with the Line 4 Derby and concludes on Tuesday, National Liberation Day in South Korea with Busan IPark versus Jeonnam Dragons.

Match of the Round

Busan IPark (3rd) vs Jeonnam Dragons (7th), Tue. August 15th - 19:30

Two teams that could be described as fallen giants in K League, Busan IPark and Jeonnam Dragons, have 15 major trophies between them including multiple FA Cups, continental titles, and K League 1 championships. But, at present, the two clubs are battling to get out of K League 2. For Jeonnam, the 2023 campaign is their fifth since relegation, for Busan it's their third following relegation in 2020. Both are making a good fist of it, too - Busan in particular who are third in the table. Park Jin-sub's men are unbeaten in three and are actually level on points with Gyeongnam FC in second while Jeonnam, following a run of just two defeats in 10, the Dragons are up to seventh in the table and just four points off the playoffs.

Busan's top scorers are Kim Chan and Bruno Lamas who both have six goals for the campaign while Fessin follows closely behind with five. Jeonnam's top scorer is Valdivia who actually leads the division for combined goals and assists with 16 with a joint-top 11 goals for the campaign and five assists. The two Brazilians, Valdivia and Bruno Lamas lead the league for total shots with 63 and 60 respectively. Jeonnam are actually the league's most accurate shooters with 42% of all attempts finding the target. Busan 35.9% places them sixth. The Royals, though, are top for shots from outside the area with 154.

With the race for promotion being one of the most closely contested ever, a win for either team would provide a huge boost. Busan could move into second with three points, providing that Gyeongnam slip up against Bucheon while Jeonnam could move into sixth should they win and Gyeongnam beat Bucheon. In total, there have been 85 previous meetings between Busan and Jeonnam with the latter winning 36, the former 28, and 21 draws. Over the last 10, Jeonnam have four wins, Busan two, and four draws. From the 13 meetings in K League 2, Busan have won just three, Jeonnam five, and five draws.

[READ: 2023 K League 1 Round 26 Preview]

Team of the Round

Gimcheon Sangmu (vs. Seoul E-Land, Tue. 15th August - 19:00)

A 4-0 win for league leaders Gimcheon Sangmu last time out kept them four points clear. Chung Jung-yong's men put four past Seongnam FC thanks to a penalty from Cho Young-wook, Kang Hyun-muk's second of the season, and a brace from Kim Min-jun. Gimcheon have begun to find their stride as the season heads towards the business end but have, for the first time this season, beaten a time by four goals. The last time that happened was last July. It's easy to see why Gimcheon are top and beginning to find form as the army side sits top for total shots with 335 and fourth overall for shots on target (37%). Only Anyang and Gyeongnam have attempted more headed shots and Busan shots from outside the box. Up next for Chung Jung-yong's men is the visit of his former employers, Seoul E-Land, a side that is on a run of seven matches without a win.

Player of the Round

Luis Mina, Gimpo FC (vs. Cheonan City, Mon. 14th August - 19:30)

Luis Mina's first goal in two months last time out earned his side a massively important win over FC Anyang, keeping the fledgling K League club in the mix for the playoffs. Gimpo FC are enjoying a wonderful season, sitting fourth in the table and only two points behind Gyeongnam and Busan. Mina is now on nine goals for the campaign, just one short of his career-best from 2019. Most of his goals have come in wins and most have been key in helping his team turn potential defeats into draws and draws into wins. In fact, Gimpo are nine points better off thanks to the goals of their Colombian star. He also has three assists, putting him fourth for combined goals and assists. The 30-year-old is sixth for shots and has shown a shooting accuracy of 43%. Up next for Luis Mina and Gimpo is the league's basement side, Cheonan City.

Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 26

Getting the weekend's action underway - the only Saturday game this week - is the Line 4 Derby. FC Anyang host Ansan Greeners looking to get their automatic promotion push back on track after defeat to Gimpo last time out. Ansan, under new manager Lim Gwan-sik, are seeking a first Line 4 Derby win since 2021.

Bucheon FC 1995 vs Gyeongnam FC on Monday sees a side that has just slipped out of the playoffs host another that has, in recent weeks, slipped from top spot. Bucheon are three points behind Anyang in fifth, though, and so will know that a win would move them level with their Gyeonggi Province rivals. Gyeongnam are second but only just with goals scored being all that separated the Roses from the Royals below them. A win would ensure second place is theirs for another week and keep the pressure on leaders Gimcheon.

[READ: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Suwon Bluewings Preview]

K League 2 Table

K League 2 Round 26 Fixtures

Saturday 12th August

#Line4Derby: FC Anyang (5th) vs Ansan Greeners (12th) - 19:00

Monday 14th August

#BUCvGYE: Bucheon FC 1995 (6th) vs Gyeongnam FC (2nd) - 19:00
#CCFCvGFC: Cheonan City (13th) vs Gimpo FC (4th) - 19:30

Tuesday 15th August

#BUSvJDFC: Busan IPark (3rd) vs Jeonnam Dragons (7th) - 19:30

Asan Mugunghwa vs Chungbuk Cheongju has been postponed until October 14th at 16:00 KST

Where to Watch

Follow all the action LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on TV.KLeague.com.

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