Features
LUN 08.06.2015
This weekend brought the final matchday of the Liga Adelante‘s regular season – and it saw a climax that could not have been more astonishing. In the end, R. Sporting will be a Liga BBVA club next term alongside champions Real Betis, while further down the table R. Zaragoza’s sixth-place finish was confirmed and At. Osasuna secured survival in the second tier of Spanish football.
Sporting claim a spot in the Liga BBVA
The battle for promotion from the Liga Adelante witnessed a truly amazing finish. Sporting did what was needed of them and beat Betis 0-3 with goals from Miguel Ángel Guerrero, Jony Rodríguez and Isma López, the chief stars of the clash. The result saw Abelardo Fernández’s men take advantage of Girona FC’s slip-up to snatch second place on the division’s final day.
The sides from Asturias and Catalonia, both desperate to claim the only remaining automatic ticket to the top flight, each came into the matchday in with a chance of sealing promotion. In pole position were Girona, who had their destiny in their own hands and knew that a win would guarantee them Liga BBVA football next season. It was not to be, however, as they were held 1-1 by CD Lugo. The Galicians trailed for much of the encounter, but Pablo Caballero levelled the match with a dramatic stoppage-time goal.
Zaragoza secure sixth place despite drawing with Leganés
Another issue to be resolved on Sunday was which club would come away with sixth place and a berth in the promotion play-offs. R. Zaragoza were in the driving seat to do so, as they went into the final game as the team in possession of the position and with a one-point advantage over challengers SD Ponferradina.
This meant that Ranko Popović‘s side needed victory to be certain of the play-offs. And, although they were unable to get the win, los maños will be a part of the end-of-season fight for promotion to the Liga BBVA. Los aragoneses drew 2-2 away to CD Leganés, but events in El Bierzo ensured that they qualified, as SD Ponferradina played out a 1-1 stalemate in their match-up with AD Alcorcón, a result that was not enough for the team coached by Manolo Díaz to move up into sixth.
Osasuna stay in the Liga Adelante for another year
At the bottom of the table, At. Osasuna ensured safety after drawing 2-2 at CE Sabadell. Despite being the better-placed side to beat the drop, the day proved a far from comfortable one for the Navarre club. Enrique Martín’s were taken by surprise by the forward thrust of their hosts, who established a 2-0 lead in the opening 17 minutes. Los rojillos were on the ropes, but refused to give up, showing fighting spirit to dig in and level the match with goals from David García and Javier Flaño, the second arriving in time added on.
And Flaño’s header handed his team survival just as R. Racing C. were within touching distance of salvation. The Cantabrians had to beat Albacete and hope that Osasuna lost, and with Javier Pinillos’ outfit putting themselves in front early on courtesy of Álvaro García, it looked like it was an outcome about to come to pass. The side from Santander almost managed to stay up but, having fought right to the last minute of the Liga Adelante season, they were finally relegated.
© LALIGA - 2015