In the closing stretch, the weight of responsibility grows heavier. Eldense sits as a firm, nearly unquestioned leader for a long period, carrying the pressure of keeping a narrow lead while guarding the prize that would grant a direct ascent. As the season advances, the team edges toward the decisive 33rd match, with Fernando Estévez’s side facing a rising Alcoyano that could disrupt the dream of continuing to push for the direct promotion that had once seemed almost inevitable.
After eliminating two strong opponents, Castellón and Real Murcia, Deportivo found an unlikely challenger in Amorebieta, a Basque club that staged a remarkable comeback. On matchday seven, Amorebieta trailed, but over time the dynamic shifted. They closed the gap dramatically, now just two points behind Eldense. The path to this resurgence was simple yet telling: the Basque side had lost only once in the last 13 fixtures, collecting 30 points through nine wins and three draws.
The Biscayans rise from underdog to title contenders
The squad features Eneko Jauregui, the league’s top scorer with 14 goals, a key reason behind the sudden ascent of a group that had dropped from the Second Division last May. Only two players who experienced that brief Basque era in professional football remained with the club. Amorebieta is a modest city club striving to return to LaLiga’s elite, guided by a small but determined community of about 20,000 residents. Three victories in one week brought them near Eldense’s scoring pace, following a draw at Nuevo Pepico Amat and a win against Medio Vinalopó at Urritxe on April 8.
Eldense has felt the strain of protecting its privilege every week. Wins have become more of a necessity, a demand rather than a luxury. Over the last six matches, two were secured in dramatic fashion, including a last-minute goal by Mario Sober against Calahorra, which underscored the fragility and competitiveness of the pursuit. The Deportivo front line has also faced the absence of Eneko Jauregui, who has missed four goals in the recent fixtures, adding to the tactical challenge for Eldense.
The Basques: Eneko Jauregui and the scoring force
As the final stage unfolds, both clubs are locked in a contest that will determine the champion and decide who earns direct promotion without the need for a playoff. The culmination of the regular season will see Eldense host at Nueva Condomina in Alicante and Amorebieta travel to Bilbao to face the Athletic Bilbao reserve squad, with implications for the immediate future of both teams.
With only a few adjustments made during the winter market, including the arrival of Julen Jon Guerrero from Real Madrid’s youth system, center Antson Jaso from Real Unión, and the addition of Australian midfielder Edwards, Eldense’s coach Haritz Mujika has steered the team with pace and intent toward the final stretch. The squad believes in its potential and is pursuing a pathway back to the second tier with renewed momentum.
There are still eighteen points up for grabs. The team has shown resilience, and while the road to promotion is steep, the current form suggests a strong push forward. The roster has yielded 61 percent of available playing time, a figure that remains high but is not enough to rest on laurels if the objective is to return to a division not visited since 1964.