Seven points from direct promotion, the furthest he has been since the sheikh arrived, and eleven points above seventh place, next Monday's match (9:00 p.m.) against Espanyol is not a date without a net, although those of José Gomes more than three points are at stake: finally beating one of the top finishers, breaking the bad streak, believing in promotion again and securing the position of the Portuguese coach.
Specifically, the UDA has barely released one point out of 18 possible against the top five finishers, one of the debts of Gomes. Even, the data is not at all flattering in a future promotion, giving proof of the difficulty of the young dressing room in important appointments. Mallorca beat the Almeria team both in the first leg (0-1) and in the second leg (2-0), while Leganés won in their fiefdom (2-1) and equalized in the discount with that famous maximum penalty (1 -1).
Sporting and Espanyol have only met José Gomes's team once, defeating the Asturians at the Stadium of the Mediterranean Games (0-1) and those of Vicente Moreno at home (1-0). Now, in the absence of what happens in El Molinón, in the last date, the UDA has a new opportunity. A win next Monday would also mean end the losing streak after two consecutive losses and five points from the last 18, a ridiculous amount for a team that aspires to the maximum and that under normal conditions a position of direct promotion would have been played against the parrots.
All this with the future of José Gomes on the air. After the ups and downs on the bench last season, Mohamed El Assy and Joao Gonçalves are in favor of the coach's continuity, but a third defeat in a row could lead to a drastic decision from Saudi Arabia, where impatience is greatest. Of course, imposing the current leader would calm the waters, with the boost of morale in the face of promotion.