Inside Castellón’s rise to top spot, records, resilience and Voulgaris | OneFootball

On 16 February 2026, CD Castellón sat alone atop the Segunda División for the first time in nearly 36 years. El Periódico Mediterráneo highlights an improbable rise built on resilience, an attacking blueprint and smart recruitment.

This surge is striking given that after matchday five they had managed only two draws, and that last season they secured safety in the antepenultimate round. Not long has passed since a spell in Primera Federación either.

Over the last 15 years they spent seven seasons in Tercera, swallowed painful defeats to Borriol, Segorbe and Barrio del Cristo, and saw promotions slip away on penalties. An administrative relegation also led to a players’ strike over unpaid wages.

They are the third highest scorers and the second meanest defence, a blend that typically keeps teams near the top. Romain Matthys has gone 570 minutes without conceding, and they have strung together eight straight home wins at SkyFi Castalia.

They can win without dominating the ball or peppering the goal. A 0-4 at Valladolid and a 2-0 against Deportivo underlined ruthless finishing, with Ousmane Camara and Álex Calatrava striking from range and only one other effort on target.

The numbers fit the mood, 11 wins and a single defeat in the last 15 league games. Pablo Hernández’s side marry attractive football with efficiency.

A squad built largely from players outside the elite, some who had considered walking away, has been knitted together by data-led scouting, notably the work of Haralabos Voulgaris to unearth hidden talent. For supporters under 40-45 who have never seen their team in the top flight, it feels like a fairy tale that would only need the happy ending of promotion.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo