Second Division B - play-offs, day 1

The tie between group champions Albacete and Lorca FC is in the balance after they drew 1-1 in their first leg final on Sunday. A 16,000 crowd turned up to see Dani give the home side the lead on the stroke of half time, but Abel Gómez equalized for the “Brócoli Mecánico” with a quarter of an hour to go. Formerly known as “La Hoya Lorca” before Chinese ex footballer and businessman Xu Genbao acquired 100% of the club last year, Lorca have never played in the second division A. Racing Santander just missed out on promotion last season, but this year they are trying again after finishing runners up in their group to Cultural Leonesa, and they got off to a good start with a 1-3 victory at Rayo Majadahonda. Dani Aquino headed the Cantabrians in to the lead on the hour mark, and although Carlitos levelled the scores for the locals soon afterwards, Granero and Abdón Prats added two more in the last ten minutes. Meanwhile Valencia Mestalla got the better of the battle between two of the first division reserve sides, the Ches running out 2-3 winners at Celta B in their first leg. Mera gave the locals an early lead, but strikes by Araujo and Nacho Gil turned the scoreline around before the break, and and Gregorio added a third before Borja Iglesias scored again for the Galicians.

Very few goals in the other ties though, Atlético Baleares winning 1-0 against Toledo thanks to a strike from Malik with ten minutes to go to the break, and Villanovense beating Fuenlabrada by the same score after Jesús Rubio converted a penalty midway through the second half. Elsewhere the game between Cartagena and Alcoyano ended without goals, leaving everything to be decided in next weekend’s second leg. Four teams are also playing off to avoid the last two relegation spots, Burgos paired against Linares, and Atlético Levante (Levante’s B team) meeting San Sebastian de los Reyes, known affectionately as Sanse. Both first leg ties ended in 0-0 draws though, and any of the four could still go down. (21.05.17)

The play-offs for promotion to the second division A began this weekend, with 16 teams vying for the four promotion spots. As in previous years, two of the places are reserved for the 2B regional group champions, the four of whom meet in direct play-offs over two legs, with the first legs taking place this weekend. The other 12 teams have been paired up according to the position they finished in their group, with those finishing second playing those finishing fourth, and two ties matching up the third placed sides. The six winners of those ties join the two losing group champions in the semi-finals, with the four survivors of that round playing off for the last two promotion spots.

Two of the regional group champions met on Saturday, Cultural Leonesa close to returning to the second division A for the first time in 42 years after beating Barcelona B 0-2. Alex Gallar got the opener on the quarter hour mark with a shot which Varo couldn’t stop from crossing the line, and Toni Villa made it two with a shot from outside of the area early on in the second half. One other match on Saturday, Real Marcia winning 1-3 at Pontevedra to take a big lead in to next week’s second leg. Víctor Curto and Sergi Guardiola put the visitors two up at the break, and Curto made it three before Bonilla got one back with a late penalty. (20.05.17)