Almería and Castellón to Battle for Spot in Primera Playoff Final. The fate of a place in the Primera playoff final will be decided in Almería. Almería relies on Arribas’s scoring form and home run, while Castellón sticks to its attacking style.
Tonight in Almería, the second finalist of the play-off for promotion to La Liga will be determined. After a draw in the first leg, the clash between Almería and Castellón enters its decisive stage. The hosts have the advantage: the team not only scored an important away goal, but also boasts the best home record in the league — nine wins in their last ten matches at their stadium.
Sergio Arribas once again becomes the key figure for Almería. His scoring form — 26 goals this season, including the one against Castellón in the first game — makes the midfielder the main weapon of the hosts. Arribas confidently orchestrates play from deep, allowing the team to maintain attacking potential even in tense matches.
Despite missing the chance to win at home, Castellón still has a chance to continue its season. The team, which finished sixth in the Segunda, is not going to abandon attacking football even away. Special attention in the visitors' lineup goes to Álex Calatrava — the midfielder has scored 14 goals and provided 8 assists, becoming one of the surprises of the championship.
The match will take place at the Juegos del Mediterráneo stadium and will kick off at 21:00 local time. The atmosphere is expected to be intense: both teams are aiming to reach the final, where one participant has already been decided. A similar situation recently happened with Celta Fortuna, who made it through a dramatic semi-final, as detailed in the article about major changes in the Real Zaragoza squad.
For reference: In recent years, Almería has consistently ranked among the strongest home teams in the Segunda, while Castellón has reached the playoff semifinal stage for the first time in a long while. The winner will face the strongest rival for a place in La Liga, where both financial and sporting prospects are significantly higher. According to RUSSPAIN, interest in the match is high not only among fans, but also among scouts from the country’s top clubs.
