Next up in ‘s excellent journey around the European lower leagues is Spain.

La Liga will have added spice in the form of more derby games next season as Real Betis & Rayo Vallecano claimed the 2 automatic spots in Liga Adelante in a season packed with highs and lows for some of the biggest teams in the Spanish 2nd tier. In Madrid, Rayo Vallecano became the 4th side from the capital to make it to the top flight as they finished in 2nd spot 3 points behind Betis but the majority of the drama was off the pitch, with rotating sponsorships, strikes, unpaid wages & Stadium name change rows topping the bill at the controversially named Teresa Rivero somewhat taking the shine off events on the pitch.

It has been reported that some Rayo players had to sell their cars to survive a period of 3 months with no wages. Betis regained their La Liga spot to join city rivals Seville after an absence of 2 seasons. In 3rd place came Barcelona B, the Baby Blaugrana finished the season in style but unfortunately League rulings state that they cannot compete in the same Division as their A team so they were not allowed to compete in the inaugural Liga Adelante promotion play offs. Highly rated coach Luis Enrique left at the end of the season to take the top job at Roma and has since set his eyes on taking top scorer Jonathon Soriano with him, although Premier League new boys Swansea City are also keen so it will be interesting to see which youngster is next to step up to the plate, one thing is for certain, there will be one!

Two defeats in the final sixteen matches saw Elche climb from mid table to finish the season in 4th place, Granada also enjoyed an excellent 2nd half of the season to cement 5th spot thanks mainly to the 24 goals of Alex Geijo, the Swiss born former Malaga man finishing 4th in the top scorers list and the industry and guile of on loan Udinese man Dani Benitez. Celta Vigo stumbled to 6th position having spent the majority of the season in the top 3 and Valladolid were the “lucky losers” making it in to the play offs due to Barca B not being able to enter.

The first round of play off matches saw Elche knock out Valladolid 3-2 on aggregate whilst Granada overcame Celta Vigo on penalties, the 2nd leg in Andalusia saw one of the games of the season in Spain. In the Play off final 1st leg Elche earned a great 0-0 draw at the fortress Los Carmenes in a highly charged atmosphere the hosts had a penalty saved in the 4th minute of injury time only for it to be re taken and saved again by visiting keeper Jaime. Sadly tensions boiled over outside as coaches carrying Elche players & families were attacked.

Three days later a packed Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero witnessed another blood & thunder tie with both sides determined to play La Liga football next season. Granada took a 28th minute lead when Ighalo rounded 1st leg hero Jaime to put the visitors ahead. Elche had a legitimate goal ruled out before laying siege to the Granada goal, the drew level on the night 10 minutes from time through Xumetra but couldn’t find another goal so Granada play in the Spanish top flight for the 1st time since the 1975/76 season. Sadly more drama followed at the end when a pitch invasion forced the celebrating Granada team off the pitch then scuffles in the tunnel required police intervention.

Girona & Cartagena were in the hunt for the play offs but both tailed off in the final run in whilst Alcorcon can be pleased with a 9th placed finish in their 1st season in the Spanish Segunda. Founded in 1971 Alcorcon have played much of their football in the regional leagues but following 10 seasons in the Segunda B they will now play a 2nd season at this level mainly due to fantastic home form at their 3000 capacity Santo Domingo Stadium where they were beaten just 4 times.

The bottom four consisted of 1 side who were expected to challenge at the top of the table, CD Tenerife relegated from La Liga the previous season went straight through the league & will now compete in Segunda B. Three changes of coach during the season didn’t help the Blanquiazules but not many people in the Canary Islands saw this coming as the Islanders take up a place in the 3rd tier for the 1st time since 1986. Ponferradina make an instant return to the 3rd tier despite a strong finish to the season where they will be joined by Albacete & Salamanca the latter having a spectacular fall in the 2nd half of the season.

The Copa Del Ray saw Betis beat leaders Barcelona by 3 goals to 1 at the Benito Villamarin after an impressive performance by the hosts, sadly Barcelona had romped home in the 1st leg 5-0. There was more joy for Cordoba as they dumped Racing Santander out of the 2nd round after drawing 3-3 over 2 legs Jorge Luque’s 120th minute goal sending them through but Deportivo La Coruna knocked them out in the following round.

Jonathon Soriano’s 32 goals saw the Barca B striker top the scorer’s charts with Valladolid’s Javi Guerra in 2nd with 28 & Ruben Castro in 3rd with 26 for Champions Real Betis. A special mention to Tenerife striker Nino who hit 17 and has scored 60 goals in 3 seasons 2 of which have seen Tenerife relegated.

Liga Adelante welcomes back Hercules Alicante after a 1 season foray in La Liga, Almeria also drop a division as do Deportivo La Coruna who were 1 of 7 teams who could have been relegated on the final day. Deportivo La Coruna drop a League after 20 seasons in La Liga 7 of which have seen top 3 finishes. Arriving from the 3rd tier are Champions Real Murcia, promoted at the 1st attempt and after a 19 year absence Catalan outfit Sabadell.

Joining them through the complex Spanish playoff system are CD Guadalajara, a small club just to the North West of Madrid who make it to the 2nd tier for the 1st time in their 64 year history after 2 legged playoff victories over Orihuela, Seville B & CD Mirandes, winning the final on away goals. Alcoyano also join them after two 1-0 victories in the final against Lugo also eliminating SD Eibar and the reserve side of Real Madrid, Castilla in the earlier playoff rounds. Alcoyano, a town in the hills between Valencia and Alicante regain Segunda status after an absence of 42 years.