Rayo Vallecano are back in the top flight after a two-year absence, a 1-0 victory over Lugo on Sunday evening tying up the second of the direct promotion spots with one game still to go! That meant that Sporting Gijón will have to make do with a play-off spot despite a 2-1 win over Granada, and Zaragoza also made sure of their place in the play-offs after beating Valladolid 3-2. Five teams are in contention for the remaining two places though, Valladolid themselves on 64 points, level with Cádiz and Osasuna (who they meet on the last day), with Numancia and Oviedo two points below them on 62.
Further down the table Barcelona B go down after a 0-0 draw at Albacete, the youngsters unable now to save themselves after Nàstic beat the already promoted Huesca 0-1, and Córdoba and Cultural Leonesa also won their respective games. No less than six sides could still be relegated though, those three, Albacete, Alcorcón and Almería, who currently occupy that last place after a goal-less draw against the aforementioned Alcorcón.
Michel’s team may have won promotion, but the second division will still have a Rayo from Madrid after Rayo Majadahonda beat Cartagena in their second division B group champions play-off. It was a close thing though, the tie being decided by an own goal in the seventh minute of injury time. Majadahonda have never been in the second division before, but Mallorca know it well, and they return after just one season following a 3-1 aggregate victory over Mérida. Cartagena and Mérida now go into the hat with six other teams in the general play-offs for the other two places. (27.05.18)