The Madrileño heads into the final stretch of the Primera Federación | OneFootball

Luis Aragonés used to say that the last 10 matchdays of the league were the most important. Atlético Madrileño has already played the previous 28 in the third tier of Spanish football and there they are, fighting for promotion to LaLiga Hypermotion. In a group with so many strong contenders for the top spot, we analyze the schedule of the red-and-whites and their direct rivals.

Match by Match

With the result obtained in Tarazona, which, in terms of standings, was more important than people think, Atlético Madrileño is more alive than ever in the fight. They are the second highest-scoring team in group 2, and have the top scorer of the category in their ranks: Arnau Ortiz, with 16 goals and 4 assists. A key asset to fuel hopes of promotion.

Fernando Torres’ men will have a unique opportunity to pick up points, as their next two fixtures will be in Alcalá de Henares. First against Cartagena, then against Antequera. There’s a desire for revenge against the black-and-whites for that defeat in the second matchday of the championship, by the way. The rest of the schedule goes from “easier to harder,” and while it’s true that no opponent is easy, direct clashes with rivals won’t happen until the penultimate and last matchdays. In between, visits to Murcia and Teruel. After hosting Marbella, Betis Deportivo, and Sabadell, and a trip to Elda, Algeciras will be the last team to visit the Alcalá sports center and also the last rival for Madrileño.

Let’s keep dreaming. The main handicap in the second half of the season: home games, where they have yet to win in 2026. I’m sure that will change.

Sabadell, the Team to Beat

An unexpected rivalry (sportingly speaking and a very healthy one, by the way), but one that’s generating a lot of buzz in our country. Ferrán Costa’s team, a well-oiled machine that has dominated at its peaks and managed to compete even at its lowest, remains the leader of group 2 with a 3-point advantage. Regardless of how the season ends, survival is assured (the first goal for the arlequinados) and they are dreaming of another promotion.

The first of the 10 finals won’t be easy: Europa with Aday Benítez, Jordi Cano, and company are coming. Ghosts of the past, from that 2-0 defeat at Nou Sardenya, and the Europeans have been another unexpected guest at the party. On the schedule, up to 4 teams in the relegation zone and another right on the edge, Tarazona. The other direct rival they’ll face is Atlético Madrileño, in the final matchdays in the capital. But watch out, because they’ll also host Hércules with Beto Company, Real Murcia—possibly the season’s biggest disappointment—and Antequera, who, with nothing to lose, are still putting up a fight.

Will it be enough to hold onto first place? Well, in my opinion, the clash against Europa will partly determine their promotion chances. If they win, they’re clear favorites. If they lose, the gap narrows, and if Madrileño wins…danger. For the neutral, it’ll be spectacular, but for Sabadell fans, probably not so much.

Europa and Eldense, Lurking

Catalans and Alicante natives are just one point behind the reserve team. A historic season for the escapulados, including a stadium change, and an Eldense that has grown throughout the season to become a solid, compact, and highly competitive team.

Europa has Jordi Cano, who has as many goals as Arnau Ortiz but one less assist. And this matchday, Aday Benítez’s men begin their rollercoaster, visiting the Nova Creu Alta defended by the leader. From there, they’ll face Eldense and Teruel consecutively. They’ll also visit Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Alcorcón, and Tarragona, as well as host Algeciras, Real Murcia, Villarreal B, and UD Ibiza. Against Atlético Madrileño they’ve lost the head-to-head, having lost 2-0 in Alcalá and drawn 2-2 at La Bòbila. With Eldense…so far, a 1-1 draw at Nou Sardenya.

Deportivo may seem to have it easier, as they’ll only face 2 playoff teams and 4 in the relegation zone, plus a Tarazona going through a rough patch. Still, they have matches against Ibiza, Cartagena, and Antequera—not only tough opponents but also teams dreaming of a playoff spot. After several games without a win, they’ve now racked up 2 victories, scoring 8 goals in the process.

Teruel, Villarreal B, Antequera, and Hércules with Nothing to Lose

A historic campaign for Teruel in Primera Federación, just like the promotion playoff they experienced in 2025. One of the lowest budgets in the category and yet, they’re in a very commendable 5th place with 42 points. Five behind Europa and Eldense, a relatively wide gap but one I find unlikely to close unless the teams above slip up a lot. The worst part is that their direct rivals are just 1 or 2 points away, and there are quite a few: Villarreal B, Antequera, Hércules, and Cartagena. In fact, they’ll have to fight to keep their position against 2 of them, both away from home. A tall order. They’ll also have to host Atlético Madrileño, Alcorcón, and Nàstic, and play against relegation teams like Betis Deportivo, Atlético Sanluqueño, and Marbella.

Villarreal B, Antequera, and Hércules have relatively manageable schedules. But the toughest, without a doubt, goes to the people from Maulí: aside from Europa—against whom they lost both matches—they’ll have to face the remaining teams in the top 5 and, among them, visit the top two in the standings. Consistency will determine these teams’ chances of grabbing 5th place, and let’s not forget UD Ibiza and Cartagena, who are slowly closing in. The black-and-whites, the next opponent for Madrileño…

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.