Girona’s victory a first away from home

Girona FC’s 3-0 win against R. Zaragoza not only took Pablo Machin’s side closer to the play-off final, but it was also landmark in the battle for promotion. Never in the first round had a team managed to win at their opponent’s ground in the first-leg.

Last season Córdoba CF ended their long wait for promotion to Liga BBVA. The Andalusian club went head-to-head with Real Murcia CF in the first round. Cordoba managed a 2-1 win away from home after a 0-0 draw in the first-leg. UD Las Palmas also got a win away from home against R. Sporting. Two away victories for the Andalusians and Canarians for the first time in the first round after four years of the play-offs.

In 2013 AD Alcorcón-Girona and Las Palmas-UD Almería played for a place in the top flight of Spanish football. Victories for the Catalans and Almeria in the two return-legs took them to the final, which Almeria won with 0-1 and 3-0 victories.

In 2012 the season finished in a similar style to this one with two teams fighting until the end for the third place, RC Celta and R. Valladolid CF, whilst the sixth place was decided in the final seconds. In the end it was Valladolid who went up after a hard-fought final against Alcorcón. The victory at Santo Domingo proved the key for the Pucelanos to return to Liga BBVA.

In the 2010-11 season Elche CF, Granada CF, Celta y Valladolid were the four teams that fought for promotion. Granada in the end were victorious after suffering in the first round and the final against Celta and Elche respectively.

The Liga Adelante is a highly demanding competition and even more so when it comes to the play-offs. The teams that long for a place in Liga BBVA have much to play for, but Girona on Thursday night, June 11, took the first step by doing the most difficult thing. Pablo Machin’s men did what very few have achieved, and no one in the first match, which is land the first blow away from home, conquering the Romareda stadium and continue dreaming of the Liga BBVA.