The 2019 escape that reshaped Castellón, and the memory driving Sunday’s test | OneFootball

Castellón’s last decisive final day at home came in 2019, when César Díaz’s stoppage-time free-kick kept them up. That escape colours the build-up to Eibar’s visit on Sunday.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, 2018/19 was their first season back in Segunda B after seven years in Tercera. With 10 games left they were bottom, 10 points adrift, yet they surged to a final-day shot.

Barcelona B arrived with nothing at stake. Relegation, a play-out or survival were all in play. Conquense, already down, struck late to haul Alcoyano into Tercera, then Díaz made it safe in the 94th minute.

The free-kick, from the edge of the area, followed a slip as he struck, the ball piercing the wall to beat the keeper, and he calls it the biggest goal of his career.

Signed from Racing Santander that January, he left in 2022 after 22 goals and four assists in 109 official games. He later joined Atlético Saguntino, retired in 2023 at 36, and now lives in València.

As in 2019, a win on Sunday is not enough on its own. Even if they beat Eibar, results in Deportivo-Las Palmas, Almería-Valladolid, Zaragoza-Málaga and Burgos-Andorra will set their final placing and play-off route.

In 2019 they looked to the bench for updates and, after full-time, waited on the pitch for Alcoyano-Conquense to finish to confirm safety. David Cubillas, a starter that day, will take Sunday’s honorary kick-off at 18.30 at SkyFi Castalia after announcing his retirement.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo