The impossible challenge that already lurks in the Second Division

Twenty seasons have already passed since the competition in the Second Division changed completely. Before, only the last two went down from First and the third and fourth from the queue were played a qualifying round with the third and fourth classified in the silver category to decide the final promotions. Of course, that used to benefit the first rank, because their budget was considerably higher. We are talking about the 98-99 season. Already in 99-00 the current format was promoted: the three worst say goodbye to the elite. Since then, more than enough time has passed for the next impossible challenge to come to pass. And yes, impossible, because so much later, it still hasn't happened once. But On the horizon of LaLiga SmartBank 2020-21, a more than real possibility is already seen: the return, for the first time, of the three newcomers.

Perhaps it is the year of COVID-19 that gives you a historic opportunity to Espanyol, Mallorca and Leganés. Who knows if they will succeed, but the truth is that 16 days later they have shown enormous power and their squads and performances all seem to indicate that they will lead them to upward progress. Without going any further, after the conclusion of the weekly appointment, the three command the classification. Of course, the enormous competitiveness that exists in the Second Division and the difficulty of piercing the rival goal does not give them too much margin for their more direct rivals. Almería aims to be the fiercest opponent. Sporting, which has had a great start to the season, also is an aspirant. It remains to be seen how regularly teams like Ponferradina, Málaga, Rayo Vallecano or Girona de Sylla and Stuani. Other potential contenders such as Real Zaragoza or Alcorcón may have been too far behind.

Surprising as it may seem, the vast majority of relegated teams fail to be promoted the following year. The surprise is not only due to football criteria. LaLiga 'compensates' the clubs that say goodbye to the queen category with a significant amount of millions so they can balance budgets, keep some of their most valued players and not be forced to part with much of their rosters. So Espanyol has been able keep elites of the stature of Raúl de Tomás or Embarba and Girona was able to do the same with Stuani last season. Even so, it is not a categorical opinion: Mallorca had to sell Budimir, the parrots fired Marc Roca to Munich …

Reasons to believe

Before starting the new season of LaLiga SmartBank, Espanyol was considered the great favorite due to the fact that they kept the Embarba, RDT, Darder, Cabrera on the roster And a long etcetera. This was demonstrated from matchday 1, winning matches without disheveled and having a practically insurmountable wall in Diego López. The bad streak arrived, something natural given the demands. It may have been the fruit of the calendar. Not even the most optimistic were confident of adding nine points from visiting Fernando Torres de Fuenlabrada, receiving the candidate Girona and visiting Butarque. Nor did the most pessimistic expected that Vicente Moreno's men would only get a tie for revenue. They have already solved it with wins against Zaragoza and Cartagena, although it has cost them the first place that they defended almost from the first day with great determination.

His successor is now Mallorca, which is on the way to signing historic scoring records. Not in favor, where those of Luis García Plaza suffer horrors to solve the parties. Something had to do with the departure of Budimir, who did not cease in his efforts to play in the First Division. Even so, the vermilions kept a block with Baba, Dani Rodríguez, Raíllo or Valjent with habitual faces. Goalkeeper Manolo Reina goes on and makes it, moreover, plethora. 16 days later, seeing is believing, the recently released players have only conceded three goals !! To make matters worse, Abdón Prats scored as a Chilean in the discount for the visit to the Mediterranean Games. Everything comes out and they are thrown in order to return to First. But the Second takes many turns and the lack of aim can still play a trick on them.

The one that could leave more doubts a priori of the three was Leganés. Although the championship ended with pride and high esteem, many voices already pointed to the lack of a goal as the main problem. Borja Bastón arrived, in doubt for its uneven performance years ago. For now, the scoring facet is not being solved so much by him, but by Sabin Merino, a new discovery when it comes to drilling networks. Martí, despite his resume, did not meet Garitano's expectations, who was tempted to fulfill the fable of the prodigal son. Neither did the three defeats in the first five games help. But Butarque, even without his faithful stands, is the strength of the champions. After nine games, Lega have won eight at home. 18 goals in favor is not a masterful figure. Neither are the 12 against their rivals, but they are in the fight and already six points above seventh place.

History is not with them

Since the current system was implemented, A total of 60 teams have seen their dream of playing in the First Division go by and have returned to Second with the illusion of coming back. Most of them, whenever it was, managed to return. But very few did it in the first year, something that greatly conditioned their economic potential and ruined the projects manufactured previously. Specifically, only 14 achieved the feat of lowering-raising and in two seasons two of them signed it jointly. As the panorama is, it would be quite a surprise that there were not two promotions between Espanyol, Mallorca and Leganés, although there is still a lot left and the distances are minimal.

Also, it is an anomalous year. The big clubs have not been able to strengthen as seasons ago due to the crisis and the newly descended have been able to retain their colossi, also the result of the lack of dizzying offers. This did not happen in 2016-17, when Levante and Getafe rose as soon as they went down. The only one who stayed on the way was Rayo Vallecano. Girona was the lucky one. You have to go back to the 2000-01 season to find a similar case. Back then they descended Betis, Atlético and Sevilla and La Giralda were able to witness the success of their two clubs only a few months later. The mattress team stayed at the gates, in fourth position, something that today would have given them the right to play the Playoff (this was established in 2010-11). Tenerife was the one that made him avoid the glory. Without the intention of predicting, the data presented below does not seem to occur in this particular campaign: in eight out of twenty seasons none of the descendants managed to return.