Deportivo lost to Las Palmas in the final round: playoff race heats up. Deportivo ended the season with a home defeat by Las Palmas. The visitors kept their playoff hopes alive, while the hosts celebrated their return to the top tier. The match proved crucial for both teams.
One of the most anticipated matches of the final round of the Segunda División concluded in La Coruña: Deportivo de la Coruña, who had already secured direct promotion to La Liga, hosted Las Palmas in a decisive game for the visitors’ playoff hopes. The atmosphere at the Riazor stadium was festive—fans were celebrating the team’s return to the top flight after an eight-year absence, but on the field, an intense battle unfolded.
Despite having guaranteed promotion to La Liga, Deportivo did not back down from the fight for first place in the standings. However, to achieve this, they not only needed a win over Las Palmas but also for Racing to slip up. Coach Antonio Hidalgo made significant changes to the lineup: only Ximo Navarro and Mario Soriano remained from the previous round’s starting eleven, with Germán taking his place in goal. Up front were Zaka and Stoichkov, while Noé Carrillo and José Ángel started in midfield.
Las Palmas, in contrast, kept their usual lineup after a draw with Zaragoza. Their main hopes were pinned on Jesé Rodríguez, who had scored ten goals this season, and Kirian, who continued to dictate play in central midfield. Players like Pejiño and Jonathan Viera started on the bench, ready to strengthen the team during the match.
The match lived up to expectations: Las Palmas quickly took the lead with goals from Kirian and Marvin Park. Deportivo managed to cut the deficit after a precise strike from Zaka Eddahchouri, but couldn’t equalize. The final result—2:1 to the visitors—keeps Las Palmas’ playoff hopes alive. The match was officiated by referee Eder Mallo, with José Antonio López working as the VAR official.
Special attention was drawn to individual performances: for Deportivo, Bil Nsongo stood out as the hero of last week, while for Las Palmas it was Jesé Rodríguez, who was active in attack once again. According to russpain.com, the battle for playoff spots this season has been one of the closest in recent years: five teams competed for four places, and the final standings were decided literally in the last round.
The final round of the Segunda División was not only a celebration for La Coruña but also the stage for a dramatic season finale. While Deportivo celebrated their return to the elite, Las Palmas continued their fight for promotion. Similar tension can be seen in other tournaments: for example, recently Rafa Jodar claimed victory in the first set at Roland Garros, which was also an important event for Spanish sports.
For reference: the Segunda División is the second tier of Spanish football. The winners go directly up to La Liga, while the teams finishing third to sixth compete for the last promotion spot via the playoffs. This season, Deportivo secured their promotion in advance, while Las Palmas kept their chances alive until the final round.
