Barça Atlètic 1-1 Córdoba: All to play for still

The promotion play off final will be decided in the Nuevo Arcángel stadium in Andalusia. Barça Atlètic and Córdoba played out a 1-1 draw in the Estadi Johan Cruyff in the first leg of the tie to decide which team will be playing in the Second Division next season. The visitors took the lead early in the game and the blaugranes had to wait until the final minutes before they came up with an equaliser from Pocho. 

Falling behind 

The promotion play off final began in the worst possible way for Barça Atlètic as Córdoba took the lead in the first leg after just eight minutes through Toril. 

The blaugranes were rocked and it took Rafa Márquez's team 20 minutes before they had their first shot on goal when Moha tested Córdoba keeper Marín. 

More than 5,000 fans were packed into the Estadi Johan Cruyff, including the Barça president Joan Laporta and the director of football Deco. Rafa Márquez's team dominated possession in search of an equaliser with Córdoba trying to disrupt the flow of the game and offering little in attack to threaten Marc Vidal in goal for Barça Atlètic. 

With just quarter of an hour left, Barça striker Pocho went close to levelling things up with a header just over the bar. 

Quick counter attack

Just when it seemed that the first leg would end in defeat, Barça Atlètic found a way through. Unai Hernández launched a pacey counter attack, Dani Rodríguez was also involved before Pocho finished to make it 1-1 with just two minutes of normal time remaining. The tie is now finely balanced with the second leg to come next Sunday in Córdoba, kick off at 8pm CEST. 

MATCH STATS

Barça Atlètic, 1
Còrdoba, 1

Barça Atlètic: Marc Vidal, H. Fort (Dani R. min 67), Pelayo, Mikayil, Gerard Martín, M. Casadó, Moha M., Bernal (Guillermo, min 83), Pau Víctor, Unai and Marc Guiu (Pocho, min 72)
Còrdoba: C. Marín, Albarrán, Lapeña, Barboza, Calderón, Diarra (Kike Márquez, min 81), Isma Ruiz, Carracedo (Alex Sala, min 64), A. Mendes (Simo, min 73), Toril (Casas, min 64) and Zalazar (Iván Rodríguez, min 81)

Goals: 0-1, Toril (min 8); 1-1, Pocho (min 88)