Month: January 2019

Third Division – Segunda Division B. Two groups of 20 teams each. The top 2 of each group promoted to Second Division, the last three relegated to 4th Division.

Group II: Last in the table and relegated were CD Antequerano, Cordoba CF, and SD Ibiza. This season was not good for the better known clubs: Real Jaen was 3rd, CD Badajoz – 4th, Albacete Balompe – 5th,

Xerez CD – 6th. Thus, the winners were surprising, particularly the group champion.

CF Calvo Sotelo finished 2nd with 48 points.

CF Lorca Deportiva was the champion of this group with 49 points. A historic victory for the small club – champions and going to play second division football next year.

Group I. If anything, one footnote should be made – here were playing teams from Andorra. Andorra FC ended 10th and CD Endesa Andorra was 12th. The tiny country did not have a championship of its own and did not appear in UEFA championships of any kind. Barakaldo FC, SD Huesca, and Racing Ferrol were relegated.

Deportivo Alaves tried to go up, but failed to achieve it by a point difference – 3rd with 50 points. Both promoted teams had 51 points. They also had the same goal-difference: +42. The teams which scored more goals won the championship.

CD Logrones lost the title, but achieved the more important promotion to second level. No tears because of finishing 2nd.

CA Sabadell FC triumphed with the group title. Perhaps the title itself mattered little – the team was returning to second level, winning promotion after tough race against similarly aimed rivals.

Spain. Forth Division – 14 Groups played the regular season and then 16 top teams proceeded to play-offs in two rounds. Since the promotional spots were 6, the criteria for participation was rather unclear – the 14 groups winners, of course, but the other 10 teams? Second placed teams, but there was also one 3rd placed. Not every 2nd placed could go to the next round, so perhaps those with higher points? Not really – there were a few left out and teams with fewer points played. Anyhow, the first round eliminated 12 teams and the rest played the second round, the winners going up to third level. Naturally, few better known clubs played at this level.

Burgos reached them, but was eliminated in the first round by FC Barcelona Aficionados.

Eibar was eliminated in the final round – by Pontevedra: 0-3 and 0-0.

Levante was the only familiar name getting promoted – they won the final round against Ourense 1-0 and 1-1. Not exactly a piece of cake for a team having Cruijff quite recently. Struggling to climb to Third Division… At least, they climbed.

The other winners were:

Pontevedra – beating Eibar, as already mentioned.

Orihuela, after beating Caudal 1-0 and 2-0.

Atletico Marbella prevailing over Siero 3-0 and 0-1.

Manacor, eliminating Pegaso 4-0 and 2-1, and

Barcelona Aficionados, beating Cultural Leonesa 1-1 and 2-0.

 

Well, good luck to the promoted next season.

 

The Cup final opposed Verona to Roma – and there was no winner: 1-1. In the replay Roma prevailed 1-0.

This was the best season of Hellas Verona so far – 6th in the championship and Cup finalists. They did their best to win, but the opponent was classier. Too bad the underdog lost, but Verona had nothing to be ashamed of.

Sitting from left: Boldorini (?) – masseur, Oddi, Baldieri (?), Conti, Alicicco – doctor, Giannini, Ancelotti, Vincenzi, Rossi – masseur.

Middle row: Tessari – assistant coach, Maldera, Falcao, Righetti, Liedholm – coach, Toninho Cerezo, Graziani, Bonetti, Colucci.

Top row: Di Bartolomei, Nela, Strucheli (?), Malggolio (?), Tancredi, Superchi, Chierico, Pruzzo, Nappi.

Roma won the Cup with difficulty, but it was tremendously tough season for the team – they fought on three fronts and against mighty opposition. This team was at its peak and would have been a shame to end the season empty-handed. It also made Roma something like a cup specialist – this was their 5th , all won in the recent years.