Almería is getting used to the leadership, without being able to pressure them to occupy the first place in the table. Those of Rubi are achieving historical figures, including those of the leadership, a position that they have savored in up to half a dozen different days, practically the same as in their entire history until this season gave the starting gun. The rojiblancos are managing favoritism better than ever, living practically in direct promotion since the league began: in nine of the twelve games it has been in direct ascent, the last six in a row.
The win in Cartagena (1-3) on the first date served for the UDA to be the first leader of the categoryAlthough Huesca’s triumph six days later also against Luis Carrión’s (2-0) caused the Huesca team to oust Almería on goal difference, dropping the Almeria to second position. In this, four days of the current year have passed (second, fourth, seventh and tenth).
The Indálica victory in Gerona (1-3) at the beginning of October in the match belonging to the Day 8 caused Almeria to become leaders again. It only lasted one more week, since in the defeat in Éibar (1-0) and the victory (1-0) of Sporting against Alcorcón on the tenth date they dethroned Rubi’s men, who returned to climb to the top of the standings last Thursday after beating Real Sociedad B (3-1), maintaining the leadership in Miranda de Abro (1-4).
Thus, Almería has already been the leader this course on half a dozen occasions, being in direct ascent on nine. The first time that Almería occupied the leadership in the Second Division was in November 2003, after winning on the eleventh date at Poli Ejido (3-1), having to spend eight years for the next one: matchday 6 of 11-12, when those trained then by Lucas Alcaraz won in Elche (1-3). As with Casuco in 2003, they did not hold the lead either, waiting another eight years: Pedro Emanuel was on matchdays 1, 6 and 7, and Guti on matchdays 24 of the year 19-20. In total, eleven leaderships, counting the six this year, just 1.7% based on the 634 games that Almería has played in the silver category.
As far as direct promotion is concerned, the rojiblancos are more used to it. To the nine second positions of the current year, we must add the two from the past (days 28 and 29) and the 19 from the first of Turki Al-Sheikh. Before the arrival of the sheikh, it was ten times in the year 03-04 (the first in its history after the opening match, a 3-2 against Málaga B), six in the 05-06, 26 in the 06- 07, five in the 11-12 and 19 in the 12-13, making a total of 77 times in the second ranking. The figure is catapulted to 96 times in direct promotion counting the 11 leaderships: 15% of the days in the 16 seasons that he has played in the Second Division.