The leaders of Primera RFEF Group I and Group II can book direct promotion without stepping into the playoff arena, depending on how the season unfolds.
As the regular season of Primera RFEF winds down, clubs are racing to fulfill their season goals. For most teams, the path to the Segunda Division includes a series of promotion playoffs that decide who moves up. Yet two clubs stand apart: the champions of each group who earn automatic ascent without the extra matches.
Why the group champions of the RFEF Primera go directly to the Segunda and which teams they are
In the third tier of Spanish football, there are 40 teams divided into two groups: Group I and Group II, each hosting 20 teams. Among them, eight pursue promotion through playoffs. However, only two clubs escape the playoff route entirely: the leaders of each group, who have already clinched first place and thereby secured direct entry into the Segunda Division.
At this moment, Group I is led by Racing de Ferrol, while Group II is headed by Amorebieta. If the season ended today, these two clubs would be the ones advancing straight to the higher tier, bypassing the playoff bracket entirely.
Beyond the group champions, the teams finishing from second to fifth place in each group enter a playoff mini-tournament. These playoff matches determine the remaining two promotion places that grant access to the Segunda Division, creating a tense finale for multiple clubs chasing the same objective. The drama hinges on head-to-head results, goal difference, and the evolving pecking order as weeks wind down.
Thus, the promotion race in Primera RFEF blends a straightforward climb for the group leaders with a high-stakes knockout route for the rest, underscoring how league structure can shape tactical decisions, squad rotation, and match-day intensity as teams push toward the goal of reaching the Segunda Division. The balance between securing automatic promotion and surviving the playoff gauntlet keeps the campaign compelling for fans, players, and analysts alike (Goal).