The race for promotion intensifies in the Liga Adelante

Lots still to be revealed and all to play for in the Liga Adelante after matchday 38 of the division. Real Betis look ever more destined for top spot with every passing week, while the remaining excitement is concentrated on the battles for second, sixth and an eighteenth position that marks the cut-off point above the relegation zone. Nobody wants to go down, and a late show from Barcelona saw them grab victory and latch on to a pack of clubs that will give it their all for survival until the final day. 

Real Betis remain on a roll

Pepe Mel’s men triumphed again, a victory that means they have now gone eight straight matches without defeat, a run that has seen them pick up seven wins and one draw. This time it was CD Lugo who felt the full force of Betis’ promotion charge, losing 5-1 at the Benito Villamarín in a result that strengthens the hosts’ grip on first place. Top spot appears to have Betis’ name on it, as with four matchdays to go in the Liga Adelante they have 78 points and lead second place by six.

Meanwhile, the battle for the remaining berth providing automatic promotion to the Liga BBVA remains extremely close-fought. Girona FC drew 1-1 with R. Zaragoza and, after R. Sporting’s 3-1 win over R. Racing C., the Catalans and the Asturians, who sit second and third respectively, are level on 72 points.

Betis will be a Liga BBVA club on the coming matchday if they win and both Girona and Sporting lose

UE Llagostera back to winning ways six matchdays later

Also very tight is the race for sixth place. Real Zaragoza continue to occupy the position, but as many as three teams are aiming to leapfrog them and this weekend’s results have left Llagostera and D. Alavés closest to los maños. A goal from Alberto Perea saw the Catalans earn a last-gasp 0-1 win over SD Ponferradina, another club also tussling for promotion, and go seventh, just three points off Zaragoza. Lluís Carrillo’s side had drawn five games in a row, and with this victory it is now 15 without defeat.

The outfit from Vitoria, meanwhile, saw off Albacete B. 2-3 and move into eighth, one point behind Llagostera. Alberto López’s men earned all three points after coming back from 1-2 down with a double fromDaniel García 'Toti', who in the space of just ten minutes handed his side three priceless points to stay in the promotion hunt.

Barcelona B cling to survival hopes

Llagostera posted their fifteenth straight game without tasting defeat

RC Recreativo and FC Barcelona were both considered all but relegated, but los azulgranas are not giving up and still entertain hopes of staving off the drop. Following three consecutive defeats, the side coached by Jordi Vinyals beat CD Mirandés 2-3 in a clash in which, despite having netted the opening goal, the Catalans were forced to come from behind. The Barça reserves dug in to turn the match around and go to within four points of safety – and with twelve points still up for grabs, it isn’t an impossible figure.

The other team around the bottom to claim a win were RCD Mallorca, who defeated CD Numancia 1-2 to move seven points away from relegation. The victory gives Miquel Soler’s side breathing space after a poor run of results that had caused them to slip closer to danger in recent weeks.