History ascends to Zaragoza

It already arrived. The 2019-20 Playoff is finally here, surely the strangest in history. It takes place in mid-August, after all the chaos produced by the 'Fuenlabrada case'and the coronavirus infections registered in Almeria or Saragossa. In fact, a false positive in the Almeria team put the qualifying rounds on the ropes yesterday. Finally, the affected footballer tested negative in the third test and, although he does not travel as a precaution, the duel will be played normally. In the meantime, there is a reality: the qualifiers will be the same as always. First leg at home of the worst classified, return with field factor for the best … The only nuance is the absence of an audience.

In the 2010/11 season a determination was made that has revolutionized Spanish football in recent years. Until then, the three best teams rose directly Second Division, which, at times, reduced the excitement of the competition in recent weeks. The same would not have happened this campaign, of course. They opted then for a new format, with a Playoff of four teams and another two directly promoted to LaLiga Santander. Thus, Cádiz and Huesca are already First in their own right, but there is still one place to be decided.

Zaragoza, Almería, Girona and ElcheIn that qualifying order, they face the major challenge of the season: to get the remaining ticket. From the first part as the favorite the hand team, due to its status as third classified and because It is worth the tie at 210 minutes to seal your pass. In the playoff, no penalties. If after the first leg and the return leg, both teams have scored the same goals both at home and away as their rival, the match will go into extra time. If the tables continue after it, the best classified will play the next phase. Therefore, small advantage. Still, history doesn't say the same. And, in the nine seasons in which the qualifying rounds have been played for climbing, only in three of them has the team that arrived with the most points in the standings celebrated.

In nine years, third parties classified have ascended three times (Getafe 2016/17, Almeria 2012/13 and Valladolid 2011/12); the rooms, two (The palms 2014/15 and Pomegranate 2010/11); the fifths, other two (Valladolid 2017/18 and Majorca 2018-19); and the sixth have given the machado on two occasions (Osasuna 2015/16 and Cordova 2013/14). More surprising if the nine finals are studied: only in one campaign did a third party reach the final round without winning.

He Elche, in the first season of the new format, stayed at the gates after finishing third. It is the only case, since in the remaining four seasons the 'bronze medal' was eliminated in the first round. The fourth in the table are the most common playoff runners-up: Tenerife, Alcorcón and Girona (on two occasions) they prove it. The palms, in 2013/14, he reached the final as fifth, and Numantia (2017/18), Sports (2018/19) and Saragossa (2014/15) did so as sixth.

The promotion phases to First