Five Tickets to the First Federation: Decisive Playoffs and the Battle for Survival. The final stage of the playoffs for promotion to the First Federation kicks off in Spain. Twenty teams will compete for five spots, while four more clubs fight to avoid relegation. Draw results and match schedule.
In Spain, the decisive playoff matchups for promotion to the Primera Federación have been set: the draw held in Las Rozas has placed twenty teams in the playoff bracket. At stake are the last five spots in the division, to which Deportivo Fabril, Real Unión, Sant Andreu, Extremadura, and Rayo Majadahonda have already secured direct promotion. The remaining teams, who finished 2nd to 5th in their respective Segunda Federación groups, must now fight for a chance to move up.
The playoff system stipulates that the second-placed teams from the groups will face the fifth-placed teams, while the third-placed will meet the fourth-placed. All ten pairs will play two legs, with the return match held at the stadium of the team that finished higher in the regular season. The semifinal winners will compete for promotion to the Primera Federación. In the event of a tie on aggregate, the team with the better league finish will advance.
Fixtures and pairings
The first round kicks off on May 10, with the return legs on May 17. Finals are scheduled for May 24 and 31. Notable participants include Real Jaén, Xerez, Atlético Baleares, and Numancia. The draw produced the following pairings: Coruxo vs Atlético Baleares, Real Jaén vs Alavés B, Coria vs Deportiva Minera, Alcoyano vs Sanse, Tudelano vs Oviedo Vetusta, Utebo vs Águilas FC, Getafe B vs UD Logroñés, Reus vs UD Ourense, Numancia vs Poblense, Xerez vs Conquense.
Meanwhile, four teams that finished 13th with the worst records in their respective Segunda RFEF groups will compete for two places to remain in the league. This mini-knockout involves SD Logroñés, Castellón B, CD Estepona, and Real Madrid C. Valladolid Promesas avoided participation thanks to a better coefficient. The winners will stay in the division; the losers will be relegated.
Groups and distribution
Each of the five Segunda Federación groups has determined its winners and outsiders. In Group 1, Fabril advanced directly, while Real Oviedo Vetusta, UD Ourense, Numancia, and Coruxo reached the playoffs. In Group 2 — Real Unión, as well as Alavés B, UD Logroñés, Utebo, and Tudelano. Sant Andreu secured a spot from Group 3, with Atlético Baleares, Poblense, Reus, and Alcoyano set to compete in the playoffs. In Group 4 — Extremadura, along with Deportiva Minera, Águilas, Xerez CD, and Real Jaén. In Group 5 — Rayo Majadahonda, while UD Sanse, Conquense, Getafe B, and CD Coria head to the playoffs.
Among those relegated to the Tercera RFEF are UP Langreo, SD Sarriana, Burgos B, Lealtad Villaviciosa, Sámano, Beasain KE, Ejea, Multivera, Deportivo Aragón, Alfaro, SD Ibiza, Andratx, Atletic Lleida, Torrent, Porreres, Puente Genil, Xerez Deportivo, Melilla, Almería B, At. Malagueño, Quintanar del Rey, Fuenlabrada, Moscardó, Yugo Socuéllamos, and Rayo B.
Context and details
The playoffs for promotion to the Primera Federación traditionally attract heightened attention from fans and club management, since the outcome of the matches determines not only the sporting fate but also the financial future of the teams. Last season, similar playoffs featured fierce competition and unexpected results, like in the match between Getafe and Rayo Vallecano, where crucial points meant a lot in the fight for survival — more details can be found in the article about the Madrid derby and its consequences.
The complete bracket and match schedule have already been published on the official federation website. The results of the playoffs will determine which Segunda Federación teams will move up and which will be forced to start next season in a lower division.
