Almería and Valladolid back on the menu for 2022/23

The Spanish Second Division concluded on Sunday, and it was confirmed that UD Almería and Real Valladolid will be the two teams that will be returning to La Liga next season.

Almería back after seven years

On the back of two failed assaults on the playoffs, the Andalusian side topped the division this year to end their seven-year absence from the top flight. It was a nervy conclusion to the campaign, for after surprisingly only drawing 2-2 with Leganés, the red-and-whites were going to miss out on direct promotion before an injury time goal for Alcorcón against Eibar changed everything.

Almeria have been among the frontrunners all the way, although they hit on a lean patch at the start of 2022, mainly due to a series of key injuries. Catalan manager Rubi and Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq have played key roles in getting the team back for a third spell in the elite division.

Barça are unbeaten in 14 games with Almeria over the years, having amassed 12 wins and a couple of draws. The last meeting was an emphatic 4-0 victory at Camp Nou with goals from Luis Suárez (2), Leo Messi and Marc Bartra.

Real Valladolid bounce back up

Real Valladolid have taken just 372 days to return to the first division, the fastest bounce-back for three decades, which they ensured with a 3-0 defeat of Huesca on the final day.

The side with the iconic violet and white stripes were not among the primer candidates for promotion until the final few weeks, with a late sprint getting them into contention for the playoffs and eventually nabbing direct promotion.

The defence marshalled by former Barça man Jordi Masip (who beat the club record by going 645 minutes unbeaten) has been one of the main reasons for the success, with strikers Sergio León and Weissmann getting the goals.

Valladolid are no strangers to La Liga and Barça have faced them 92 times in the past. The ‘pucelanos’ have only been able to win 14 of those games, but they have also managed 16 draws. They were on course to get draw number 17 in the last game between the sides, but Ousmane Dembélé clinched a blaugrana victory in the very last minutes.

One more to come

The remaining newbie for the 2022/22 season will be decided in the promotion playoffs. The first of the semi-finals promises to be an absolute corker of a game between Tenerife and Las Palmas. These are the two biggest clubs from the Canary Islands and they’re fierce rivals.

The other playoff finalist will either be Basque side Eibar, who are looking to go straight back up to the top flight, or the club from just up the road from Barcelona, Girona, presenting the potential prospect of a return of the Catalan derby to the FC Barcelona schedule.