Primera Playoff Final: Almería and Málaga Face Off Again for Promotion. Almería and Málaga will once again meet in the playoff final for a spot in the Primera. The first leg is set for June 14 in Málaga, with the return match on June 20 in Almería. The winner will secure a place in the top division.
Spanish football is once again following the pattern of previous years: Almería and Málaga, who finished third and fourth this season, will meet in the playoff final for a place in La Liga. The first leg is scheduled for June 14 and will be held at La Rosaleda Stadium in Málaga, with the decisive match taking place on June 20 at the UD Almería Stadium. Both matches will kick off at 21:00 local time.
The situation is reminiscent of last year's final between Real Oviedo and Mirandés, when victory allowed the 'carbayones' to return to the top division. For Málaga, this is already their fourth consecutive appearance in the playoff final stage, highlighting the team's consistency at this level.
In head-to-head meetings this season, the opponents exchanged victories: in the first round, Málaga won 2–1 at home, while in the second, Almería took revenge on their turf with a 3–2 scoreline. The winning goal was scored by Léo Baptistão in stoppage time, adding intrigue to the rivalry. If similar results occur in the final, Rubi's team will clinch promotion to La Liga.
Playoff finals traditionally draw heightened interest from fans and impact the clubs' financial standing. Last season, as noted in the coverage of Jon Guridi's transfer to Sevilla, clubs actively reshuffled their squads during the offseason to boost their chances of success in the top flight. More on personnel changes in Spanish teams can be found in the article about the first transfer under Sevilla's new sporting director — Sevilla signs Jon Guridi for two years.
The promotion play-offs to La Liga are held over two legs: if the score is tied after both games, the team that finished higher in the regular season is given the advantage. Almería and Málaga are both from Andalusia, adding a regional edge to the final. In recent years, teams from this region have regularly competed for promotion, with sustained high interest in play-off matches. The winner of the final will join the two best clubs of the season, who have already secured their place in La Liga.
