SEGUNDA
The second coming: who will join Alavés in LaLiga?
The Spanish second division comes to an end this weekend with Leganes and Nastic hoping to join Alavés in the top flight.
The ultra-marathon that is the Spanish second division finally comes to a conclusion this weekend with promotion, relegation and play-off positions at stake. The season doesn't actually end here as play-off games to secure the third and final promotion place will see games being played through to mid June.
Last Sunday saw Basque side Deportivo Alavés secure promotion back to the top flight after ten seasons and on Saturday one of Madrid based Leganés or Nastic Tarragona will join the isde from the Basque capital in Spain's top flight.
Promotion
Leganes have the advantage of sealing their own fate as they travel to Miranda del Ebro to face mid-table Mirandés. Nastic de Tarragona are one point behind the Madrid side on 71 points and need to beat Alavés at home and hope that Leganes slip. The team from Madrid have a better head-to head in the case of a tie on points.
Play-off
The sides who finish third-sixth will have another bit of the cherry in trying to secure promotion to the promised land with a semi-final, final with the winner making the leap to the top flight.
Leganes/Nastic along with Zaragoza, Cordoba, Girona, Osasuna and Alcorcon are all in contention for the four play-off places and with only just three points separating Zaragoza in fourth from Alcorcon in eighth ultimately head-.to-head will be the determining factor in deciding who secures the four spots up for grabs.
Relegation
Athletic Bilbao 'B', Albacete and Llagostera will all play in 2B next season with one team from the Segunda to join them. Mallorca currently have the disadvantage of relying on other results going their way with the Balearic islanders away to Valladolid. A win for Ponferredina and Almeria would condemn the former top flight perennials to life in 2B. A tie on points between all three teams would see the islanders safe.
Coming Up
At present UCAM Murcia and Deportivo Reus are the confirmed sides who will participate in the second tier of Spanish football joined by relegated Primera sides, Levante, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano.
