K LEAGUE

2021 K League 2 Round 22 Preview

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The 2021 Hana 1Q K League 2 campaign is almost two-thirds of the way through and the race for promotion is as close as it has ever been. The top five teams are separated by just five points and second through fifth just three points. This Saturday, after wins last time out, Daejeon Hana Citizen and Busan IPark go toe to toe in the Match of the Round. On Sunday, Team of the Round and -in-three Chungnam Asan take on Gyeongnam FC and Player of the Round Jonathan Balotelli will be looking to fire Jeonnam Dragons back to winning ways after defeat last time out.

Match of the Round

Daejeon Hana Citizen (5th) vs Busan IPark (4th) - Sat. 24th July, 19:00 KST

Locked on the same points and with only goals-scored separating these two promotion hopefuls, Daejeon Hana Citizen hosting Busan IPark is a match with no shortage of context. Both teams picked up wins last time out, for Daejeon it was a 2-1 away win over league leaders FC Anyang while Busan were emphatic in a 4-0 triumph over Ansan Greeners. The Royals are the league's top scorers with 31 and have the division's sharpest shooter in An Byong-jun, who already has 13 goals to his name from 21 appearances. Daejeon, meanwhile, have K League 2's leakiest defence with 30 goals conceded from 21 matches, working out at 1.43 per match.

Daejeon, though, have made 286 shots so far this season, the most in K League 2. In terms of accuracy, Daejeon slip to fourth with 88 of the 286 finding the target. Both teams will be expected to shoot on sight of goal come Saturday evening and so it may come down to which goalkeeper has the best concentration. Busan have been dominant in this fixture so far this season, putting six past the Purples in a 4-1 win victory in May and a 2-1 win in March. And over the last 10 meetings, Busan have lost just once while picking up seven wins and two draws. Daejeon's last win over Busan came in September 2018 thanks to goals from Park In-hyeok, the clubs current top scorer, and Romanian forward Aurelian Chițu.

Watch live on K League TV.

[READ: K League Olympians Midfielders & Attackers]

Team of the Round

Chungnam Asan (vs. Gyeongnam FC - Sun. 25th July 19:00 KST)

Unbeaten in three and after an impressive away win over Jeonnam Dragons last time out, Chungnam Asan will fancy themselves heading into Sunday's home fixture with Gyeongnam FC. Asan ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Dragon Dungeon last weekend to make it three games unbeaten and back-to-back victories for the first time since April. Equally as impressive is the fact that the Owls have kept three consecutive cleansheets in the process, including away to free-scoring Busan IPark a couple of weeks ago. A win for Park Dong-hyuk's men would take them above Gyeongnam and potentially into seventh place depending on results elsewhere. Gyeongnam, though, have only managed back-to-back league wins once before this term, back in April and May.

Watch live on K League TV.

Player of the Round

Jonathan Balotelli (Bucheon FC 1995 vs Jeonnam Dragons - Sun. 25th July, 20:00 KST)

Jeonnam Dragons were hit by a 3-0 loss to Chungnam Asan last time out and so will be looking to their leading marksman Jonathan Balotelli. The Brazilian has seven goals to his name so far this season as well as two assists. performing more or less at his xG of 6.49. He ranks fourth in the division for shots made at 39 and both of his goals away from home this term have come in wins - a 2-0 victory over Gyeongnam and the winner in a 1-0 triumph against Busan IPark. The Dragons face the division's basement side Bucheon FC 1995 who have won just three times this season and have scored the fewest goals in K League 2 with 12. Only one of Bucheon's wins have come at home but the Reds have beaten Jeonnam already this season - a 2-0 away victory in mid-June.

Watch live on K League TV.

[READ: K League Olympians Goalkeepers & Defenders]

K League 2 Table

K League 2 Round 22 Fixtures

Saturday 24th July 2021

#DHFCvBUS: Daejeon Hana Citizen (5th) vs Busan IPark (4th) - 19:00
#SEFCvANY: Seoul E-Land (8th) P-P FC Anyang (1st)*
#ANSvGIM: Ansan Greeners (6th) vs Gimcheon Sangmu (2nd) - 20:00

Sunday 25th July 2021

#CAFCvGYE: Chungnam Asan (9th) vs Gyeongnam FC (7th) - 19:00

#BUCvJDFC: Bucheon FC 1995 (10th) vs Jeonnam Dragons (3rd) - 20:00

*Postponed until Wednesday 18th August due to COVID-19.