Enhorabuena

Unlike most years, the final 'temporada' of the Spanish Second Division will be one without drama which is unfortunate for people like myself who crave the torture and ecstasy within futbol. My sentiments, however, fall on deaf ears in three Spanish towns which are celebrating the euphoria of a triumphant return to the Primera Division.

Let's start with Xerez. The land of flamenco has never had a Real Madrid or a FC Barcelona come to the Estadio Chapin so the locals will be in for a treat. I'm glad for the people but frankly, personally I'm still bitter at the way Jozy Altidore was treated by the club. He would have been much better off being loaned out to Levante or maybe Real Sociedad where he actually would have gotten some playing time. Xerez coach Esteban Vigo never wanted Jozy there and that was evident. Only the clubs execs wanted him and thus started a cluster-you-know-what of epic proportions.
But, let's set that aside briefly and tip our caps to Xerex who put away some old choking ghosts of the past and will delight their fans with their first ever appearance in the Primera Division. Enhorabuena.

Next is Tenerife who returns to La Liga for the first time since the 2001-2002 season. For a side that spent so much time in the Primera back in the 80s and 90s, the seven year drought must have felt like an eternity. It's good to see the Canary Islands represented in the First Division and we'll have that next year. Who knows, maybe the islanders will even be able to make a run towards a Europa League berth like they did back in the mid 90s. La Cara de Tenerife is back!

Last but certainly not least is Zaragoza. The long-time first division club from Aragon is rightly back in the Primera. Credit players like the Brazilian Ewerthon who muscled his way to being the leading scorer in this year's Liga Adelante. The 1995 Recopa Champs will be competitive in next year's la Liga so don't expect them to be a one and done.

So this weekend all matches have zero implications except where teams will lay in the final standings. Alaves secured their fate of relegation when las Palmas tied so the 2001 UEFA Cup runners up will descend further down to La Segunda B and who knows if we will ever hear from them.

Speaking of the Segunda B, there is still work to be done in the promotion playoffs. Cadiz and Cartegena have already secured their spots in next year's El Infierno leaving two more spots to be had. Sunday sees the return leg of the two playoff matches between Alcorcon-Real Union and Villarreal B - Real Jaen. Both first leg games ended in 0-0 draws so look for the Real Madrid giant killer Real Union to advance and the modest club from the north of Granada, Jaen, to lay claim to the final spot in next year's El Infierno.

Resultados - Jornada 41

R. Sociedad - Levante 1-1
Zaragoza - Cordoba 3-1
Hércules - Albacete 4-1
Alavés - Alicante 1-0
Las Palmas - Rayo Vallecano 0-0
Castellón - Eibar 4-0
Gimnástic - Elche 2-0
Murcia - Salamanca 2-1
Xerez - Huesca 2-1
Girona - tenenrife 0-1
Sevilla At - Celta 0-0


Clasificacion

1. Tenerife - 81 Ascendido!
2. Xerez - 81 Ascendido!
3. Zaragoza - 80 Ascendido!
4. Hércules - 75
5. Rayo - 69
6. R. Sociedad - 64
7. Levante - 63
8. Castellón - 62
9. Salamanca - 60
10. Gimnástic - 57
11. Elche - 53
12. Murcia - 52
13. Huesca - 50
14. Córdoba - 50
15. Girona - 49
16. Albacete - 48
17. Celta - 47
18. Las Palmas - 46
19. Alavés - 43 Descendido
20. Alicante - 34 Descendido
21. Eibar - 32 Descendido
22. Sevilla At - 18 Descendido