The 2018–19 Segunda División play-offs were played from 12 June to 23 June 2019 and determined the third team promoted to La Liga for the following season. Teams placed between 3rd and 6th position took part in the promotion play-offs.
Regulations The regulations were the same as the previous season: in the semi-finals, the fifth-placed team faced the fourth-placed team, while the sixth-placed team faced the third. Each tie was played over two legs, with the team lower in the table hosting the first leg.
The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level, the away goals rule was applied (i.e., the team that scored more goals away from home over the two legs advanced). If away goals were also equal, then thirty minutes of extra time would be played. The away goals rule would again be applied after extra time (i.e., if there were goals scored during extra time and the aggregate score was still level, the visiting team advanced by virtue of more away goals scored). If no goals were scored during extra time, the winner would be the best positioned team in the regular season.
Road to the play-offs
Albacete were the first team to guarantee a finish of 6th or better, accomplished with a victory over Sporting Gijón on 25 May. Their chance at earning direct promotion ended with defeat to 4th place Málaga on 4 June. The simultaneous result of Granada picking up a point against 5th place Mallorca would have been good enough by itself for the club to earn direct promotion alongside Osasuna. Málaga's victory guaranteed their participation in the play-offs, and Mallorca's draw, combined with Cádiz's defeat to Extremadura, was enough to guarantee their participation as well. After the penultimate match day on 4 June, Albacete had guaranteed a 3rd or 4th place finish and that they would host the second leg of the semifinal round. The final club to confirm their participation was Deportivo La Coruña, who defeated relegated Córdoba on 8 June. Cádiz and Oviedo were both in contention for the final play-off place, but they both lost on the final match day. Mallorca's draw with Extremadura on the last match day was enough for them to finish 5th, while Albacete's defeat to Almería meant they would finish 4th, three points behind Málaga, who beat Elche.
Coming off their relegation from the top flight, Málaga were leading the league in the months of September and October, having won 8 of their first 11 games. Despite losing their advantage on the direct promotion places, the Andalusian club remained strongly in the play-off chase, only falling out of the play-off places on one occasion.
Albacete entered the season seeking a return to the top flight after 14 seasons out. One defeat in eighteen between the middle of October and the end of February vaulted them up the table, leading the league for the first time on 10 February. They remained in the top three for the rest of the season, until their defeat to Málaga on 4 June. Albacete finished with the league's second best offense, and were led by goalscorers Jérémie Bela and Roman Zozulya, each with 11.
Mallorca returned to the second tier at the first attempt after spending a season out of the top two divisions for the first time in almost 40 years. Around the play-off places throughout the season, a late season push of six wins in eight, plus three points picked up from the expelled Reus, helped cement the Balearic club's place in the play-offs.
Deportivo La Coruña (abbreviated Dépor) were also seeking an immediate return to La Liga, and the Galician club established themselves as early contenders with just one defeat in their first eighteen games. However, a winless run from the middle of February to the middle of April jeopardized their chances, and they fell out of the play-off places. They were helped out by the form of promotion rivals Cádiz, who finished without a win in their final seven games, whereas Dépor had four wins in the same period, enough to finish in 6th position with a four point cushion. Both Dépor and Málaga sacked their managers in April, despite both clubs being in the play-off places at the time of their managers' departures. The two clubs also had the league's joint-second best defense.
Bracket
Semi-finals
First legs
GK 1 Dani GiménezLB 3 Saúl GarcíaCB 12 Michele SommaCB 6 Domingos DuarteRB 2 David SimónLW 15 Pedro Sánchez CM 21 Edu ExpósitoCM 4 Álex Bergantiños (c)RW 11 Fede Cartabia CF 19 Borja Valle CF 18 Carlos FernándezSubstitutions:GK 13 Adrián OrtoláDF 17 Diego Caballo DF 24 Eneko BóvedaMF 8 Vicente Gómez MF 10 Matías Nahuel FW 7 QuiqueFW 9 Christian SantosManager: José Luis Martí GK 1 MunirLB 15 Federico Ricca (c)CB 5 Pau Torres CB 4 Luis HernándezRB 29 Iván Rodríguez DM 35 Keidi Bare LW 17 Javi Ontiveros CM 8 Adrián CM 14 Badr Boulahroud RW 11 Renato SantosCF 9 Gustavo LeschukSubstitutions:GK 25 Paweł KieszekDF 3 Diego González DF 23 Miguel TorresMF 20 Erik Morán MF 22 Dani Pacheco MF 31 HichamFW 24 Mamadou KonéManager: Víctor Sánchez
GK 1 Manolo Reina (c)LB 30 Pervis EstupiñánCB 21 Antonio RaílloCB 24 Martin ValjentRB 2 Joan SastreDM 6 Marc PedrazaLW 11 Lago JuniorCM 14 Dani Rodríguez CM 8 Salva Sevilla RW 41 Leonardo Suárez CF 9 Abdón Prats Substitutions:GK 25 Miquel PareraDF 5 Xisco CamposDF 15 Fran GámezMF 28 Iddrisu Baba FW 7 Aridai Cabrera FW 10 Álex López FW 19 StoichkovManager: Vicente Moreno GK 13 Tomeu Nadal (c)LB 3 Fran GarcíaCB 19 Santiago GentilettiCB 4 Nico Gorosito RB 23 Álvaro TejeroLM 24 Jérémie BelaCM 8 Aleix FebasCM 12 Daniel Torres RM 7 Néstor Susaeta CF 10 Roman ZozulyaCF 22 Rey Manaj Substitutions:GK 1 ChurripiDF 16 José Antonio CaroDF 21 Borja HerreraMF 11 Mickaël Malsa MF 14 Diego BarriMF 17 Eugeni FW 15 Javier Acuña Manager: Luis Miguel Ramis
Second legs
GK 1 MunirLB 7 JuankarCB 5 Pau TorresCB 4 Luis Hernández RB 12 Cifu LW 17 Javi Ontiveros CM 8 Adrián (c) CM 35 Keidi Bare RW 31 Hicham CF 9 Gustavo LeschukCF 30 Jack Harper Substitutions:GK 25 Paweł KieszekDF 3 Diego GonzálezDF 15 Federico RiccaMF 11 Renato Santos MF 20 Erik MoránMF 22 Dani Pacheco FW 24 Mamadou Koné Manager: Víctor Sánchez GK 1 Dani Giménez LB 3 Saúl GarcíaCB 12 Michele SommaCB 6 Domingos DuarteRB 24 Eneko Bóveda DM 21 Edu ExpósitoDM 4 Álex Bergantiños (c)LW 10 Matías Nahuel AM 8 Vicente Gómez RW 15 Pedro SánchezCF 18 Carlos Fernández Substitutions:GK 13 Adrián OrtoláDF 2 David SimónDF 17 Diego CaballoMF 5 Pedro MosqueraMF 11 Fede Cartabia FW 7 Quique FW 19 Borja Valle Manager: José Luis Martí
GK 13 Tomeu Nadal (c)LB 3 Fran García CB 19 Santiago GentilettiCB 4 Nico Gorosito RB 23 Álvaro Tejero LM 17 EugeniCM 8 Aleix Febas CM 12 Daniel Torres RM 24 Jérémie Bela CF 10 Roman ZozulyaCF 22 Rey ManajSubstitutions:GK 1 ChurripiDF 16 José Antonio Caro DF 21 Borja HerreraMF 7 Néstor Susaeta MF 11 Mickaël MalsaMF 14 Diego Barri FW 38 Miguel ÁngelManager: Luis Miguel Ramis GK 1 Manolo Reina (c)LB 30 Pervis EstupiñánCB 21 Antonio Raíllo CB 24 Martin ValjentRB 2 Joan SastreDM 6 Marc Pedraza LW 11 Lago Junior CM 14 Dani RodríguezCM 8 Salva SevillaRW 41 Leonardo Suárez CF 9 Abdón Prats Substitutions:GK 25 Miquel PareraDF 5 Xisco CamposDF 15 Fran GámezMF 28 Iddrisu BabaFW 7 Aridai Cabrera FW 10 Álex López FW 19 Stoichkov Manager: Vicente Moreno
Final
First leg
GK 1 Dani GiménezLB 3 Saúl GarcíaCB 12 Michele Somma CB 6 Domingos DuarteRB 24 Eneko BóvedaLW 15 Pedro Sánchez CM 21 Edu Expósito CM 4 Álex Bergantiños (c) RW 11 Fede Cartabia CF 18 Carlos FernándezCF 7 QuiqueSubstitutions:GK 13 Adrián OrtoláDF 2 David Simón DF 17 Diego CaballoMF 5 Pedro MosqueraMF 8 Vicente Gómez MF 10 Matías NahuelFW 19 Borja Valle Manager: José Luis Martí GK 1 Manolo Reina (c) LB 30 Pervis EstupiñánCB 21 Antonio Raíllo CB 24 Martin ValjentRB 2 Joan Sastre DM 6 Marc Pedraza LW 11 Lago Junior CM 14 Dani Rodríguez CM 8 Salva Sevilla RW 41 Leonardo Suárez CF 9 Abdón Prats Substitutions:GK 25 Miquel PareraDF 5 Xisco Campos DF 15 Fran Gámez MF 28 Iddrisu Baba FW 7 Aridai CabreraFW 10 Álex LópezFW 22 Ante Budimir Manager: Vicente Moreno
Second leg
GK 1 Manolo Reina (c) LB 30 Pervis EstupiñánCB 21 Antonio RaílloCB 24 Martin ValjentRB 2 Joan Sastre DM 28 Iddrisu BabaCM 14 Dani RodríguezCM 8 Salva Sevilla LW 11 Lago JuniorCF 22 Ante Budimir RW 7 Aridai Cabrera Substitutions:GK 25 Miquel PareraDF 5 Xisco Campos DF 17 Salvador RuizFW 9 Abdón Prats FW 10 Álex López FW 19 StoichkovFW 41 Leonardo SuárezManager: Vicente Moreno GK 1 Dani GiménezLB 3 Saúl GarcíaCB 22 Pablo MaríCB 6 Domingos Duarte RB 24 Eneko Bóveda LW 15 Pedro Sánchez CM 21 Edu ExpósitoCM 8 Vicente GómezRW 10 Matías Nahuel CF 19 Borja Valle CF 7 QuiqueSubstitutions:GK 13 Adrián OrtoláDF 2 David Simón DF 17 Diego Caballo MF 5 Pedro MosqueraMF 20 Didier MorenoFW 11 Fede Cartabia FW 18 Carlos Fernández Manager: José Luis Martí Promoted to La LigaMallorca(6 years later)
Notes
References
External links Segunda División at La Liga website