“Pressure is not something to run from in life,” says a coach who faces the mission of lifting Eldense back to the Second Division. Six decades have shaped a long journey, and after 41 matches the moment arrives to separate the ordinary from the truly remarkable.
You don’t have to hide from pressure; in fact, the best players often lean into it. The moment just before a final is everything. The focus is simple: avoid avoidable mistakes, seize opportunities, and not give misfortune a chance to strike—because letting fear take over is a costly misstep.
Eldense: print stamp
Pedro Rojas
All athletes who risk something truly meaningful experience the same pressure without exception. The first barrier is fear, the heaviness of the moment, and a clear sense of the surroundings. Those who operate with speed and clarity are the ones who win. Eldense faces Castilla this afternoon at 20:00 on À Punt. The most important match of this era could propel Eldense into professional football. Regardless of the outcome, the moment marks a milestone—a bright milestone in a remarkable journey.
2022-23 drew the curtain on the First RFEF season. Eldense and Real Madrid Castilla would not meet again for at least a year. The coach described the mood as highly motivated: the team arrived with a clear plan, and victory would hinge on small details. A draw would only force overtime; the focus remained on winning and delivering everything possible, as the coach stated.
tie value
It’s a strong statement of intent, yet the reality is nuanced. If the match extends beyond overtime, Eldense would claim victory due to the better performance in the regular phase. The Vinalopó-based team has earned every result at their home venue over the past year, boasting 14 consecutive months without defeat locally.
Had Castilla not been ahead, the statistics might have favored them as the best away team in the competition. That’s why confidence around the Barça locker room remains cautious, especially with two key offensive players unavailable and a defensive back out due to yellow-card accumulation.
Eldense remains without Toni Abad in grand final for promotion to Segunda vs. Castilla
Caesar Hernandez
This twist leaves Eldense without two key defenders, opening space for a sub-23 player to step into the breach. The coach noted the preparations had to proceed without Toni Abad, lamenting the unfairness of the sanctions that kept him out of the most important game. The coaching staff cited the struggle to prove that the defender’s fall in the Madrid area was not a calculated attempt to draw a penalty.
“You don’t have to run from pressure in life. I played in three promotions in five years and let’s see if this promotion will be expensive.”
As expected, neither the Competition nor the Appeal accepted videographic evidence. The situation remains unresolved in the official record.
Up to 250 Euros for a second-hand ticket to see Eldense
Caesar Hernandez
The Pepico Amat arena will be packed to the rafters. Tickets went on sale quickly, with about 4,100 seats snapped up in a single breath. The message from the coach was clear: fan support is vital when the team faces a grueling test. He expressed confidence that the supporters would rise to the occasion this afternoon, as Eldense prepares for its third playoff in five years.
Arribas, the great threat
Innovations in the starting lineup include Sergio Arribas in the Madrid subsidiary’s attack. The Merengue forward, who scored 20 goals despite missing more than a month due to injury, is at full speed. The coaching staff tested him in the starting XI all week. For the Real Madrid legend-turned-coach, this is the first major challenge on the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu, and the test is real.
14 MONTHS
without a loss in Elda
► Barça’s team was defeated last season at home on the 30th match day. Since then, Eldense has consistently found scoring runs at home.
10 EARNINGS
at home from Castile
► The white subsidiary has been the top away team among the 40 First RFEF clubs. No other side has collected more away points, not even the champions Amorebieta and Ferrol. Madrid-based teams have delivered 34 of their 69 away points away from the capital.
12 GOALS
Buried by Eldense at home
The team’s defensive strength remained steady throughout the campaign, with only one defeat in the last two months. The loss to Celta B in the semi-finals at Balaídos stands as the sole blemish in a string of solid performances.
“The target is clear: we have to score one more goal than the opponents. We have the desire and the ambition to compete in a game that won’t be easy. If Castilla has shown anything this year, it’s the ability to compete away from home,” said a coach from Eldense.
“If Castilla has done well this year, if they are fighting away, we have to win by just one goal.”
“We always stay grounded. It’s a tough match against a strong opponent, and beating Raúl would be a tall order. Eldense aims to outplay Castilla with verticality, energy, and success versus control and precise tactics—a clash of two ways to approach the same high-stakes game in Spanish football.”