Almería reach promotion play-offs: Cristiano Ronaldo’s club to face Castellón with home advantage

What happened: who, when and why it matters

UD Almería clinched third place in the Segunda División on the final day after Sergio Arribas converted a second-half penalty to beat Real Valladolid 1-0, guaranteeing a place in the promotion play-offs. The result matters because it gives Almería home advantage throughout the play-offs and a clearer route to the single remaining LaLiga promotion spot, with the semi-final first leg away at Castellón set for Saturday 6 June and the return leg at the UD Almería Stadium on Tuesday 9 June.

Why it matters

Finishing third secures a potentially decisive edge: under Segunda División play-off rules the higher-placed side advances if a two-legged tie is level after extra time. That league position therefore gives Almería an important advantage in what are typically tight, nervy knockout matches. The club—recently reported to have Cristiano Ronaldo as a co-owner in source coverage—keeps alive its chance to return to LaLiga after four years away.

Play-off path and schedule

With Racing Santander champions and Deportivo La Coruña promoted automatically via second place, the final promotion slot will be contested in the play-offs. Almería will face Castellón in the semi-finals. The other semi-final pairs Málaga with Las Palmas. According to the schedule reported, the Almería v Castellón first leg will be played at Castalia Stadium on Saturday 6 June (kick-off listed as 21:00 local time) with the return at the UD Almería Stadium on Tuesday 9 June (21:00 local time). The two-legged play-off final is slated for first leg on Sunday 14 June and the decisive return leg on Sunday 21 June.

Key implications for Almería

Arribas’s penalty not only secured third place on a tense final day, it also ensured Almería avoid the uncertainty of an away-first tie and gave them the higher seed in any play-off deadlocks. The club overcame pressure in the closing moments of the regular season—dropping in live tables during the afternoon—and responded when it mattered to keep promotion hopes alive.

• Sergio Arribas scored a penalty to give Almería a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on the final day.
• Almería finished third in the Segunda División and qualified for the promotion play-offs.
• Almería will play Castellón in the semi-finals: first leg at Castalia (6 June), return at UD Almería Stadium (9 June).
• Higher-placed teams advance if a play-off tie is level after extra time, so Almería has home advantage benefit.
• Racing Santander won the Segunda División title and Deportivo La Coruña finished second, earning automatic promotion; one play-off promotion spot remains.

Context: club ownership and season overview

The report notes the wider context that Almería have a high-profile co-owner in Cristiano Ronaldo, which has increased attention on the club’s promotion bid. Almería’s campaign saw late-season volatility—consecutive defeats before the final round left their play-off place in doubt until Arribas’s decisive penalty ensured a successful outcome on the last day.

What happens next

Almería travel to Castellón for the first leg on 6 June before hosting the return on 9 June; if they progress they will face the winner of Málaga v Las Palmas over two legs on 14 and 21 June to decide the final LaLiga promotion spot. The club will prepare for a knockout fortnight where home advantage and the league tiebreak rule could prove decisive.