Badajoz advances, but without closing the gap

Badajoz is motivated by the playoff. He has it marked on his roadmap, although the message from the locker room is still to ensure permanence first. It does not seem that his continuity in the bronze category is in danger and the ascent phase begins to be a more than palpable reality.

The staff from Badajoz do not want to run out of goals in this championship final and cling to that illusion to end with a good taste in their mouths after so much suffering and calamities. In that sense, the New Nursery is going to be a key factor in their aspirations and the black and white team entrusts this union with their fans to try to make it possible, since they have to play at home five of the eight games they have left to finish regular league. “The players know that this part of the season is very important for everyone, both individually and collectively, because of the options we have to seek the playoffs,” Isaac Jové pointed out.

Badajoz overtakes four direct rivals for the playoff in one fell swoop and now only has two ahead. The black and white team advances positions and is placed seventh, but does not reduce its distance with the fifth place that remains at 6 points. The victories of Rayo Majadahonda and Celta B prevented the day from being fully favorable for the interests of Badajoz. Madrileños and Galicians got some complicated commitments against Unionistas (4-3) and Deportivo (2-1) to maintain their advantage and strengthen their candidacies as playoff teams. The victim is UD Logroñés, who began the day in fourth place and after their draw at home against DUX, they left the privileged positions. The fight for fourth and fifth place tightens with the three tied on 50 points and Badajoz on 44. Behind, Calahorra and Real Unión are one less than Badajoz, Sanse two and Unionistas three.

Isaac Jové’s team wants to continue climbing while also cutting back in the form of points. Their next final is a visit to SD Logroñés in which it will be the only outing for the black and whites in a month, since afterward Calahorra (Saturday, April 10), Unionistas (Sunday, April 17) and Bilbao Athletic wait in a row. (Saturday April 30) at the Nuevo Vivero as the match with Extremadura is in between (April 24) and in which he will add 3 points. While his rivals on that day are facing demanding duels and if the results accompany them, they could give the black and whites the definitive accolade. The Celtiña subsidiary will host Calahorra, the Majariegos will host Racing de Santander and the Rioja team will host Racing de Ferrol, which is now third with 52 points. If they played full at home, the team from Badajoz would obtain 12 points at a decisive moment of the season to attack their entry into the playoffs.

This next day, all have commitments as visitors. Celta B travels to Villaviciosa de Odón to face DUX, Rayo Majadahonda plays in Riazor against Deportivo who, with their alarming decline, is making it difficult to reach a place in the playoffs and UD Logroñés travels to Talavera de la Reina.

Badajoz is aware that it still has a long way to go to recover that 6-point deficit. He has to wait for the failure of two teams. But Celta B, Rayo Majadahonda and UD Logroñés have already added the points with Extremadura and that is also a factor in their favour. In addition, the team from Badajoz has yet to face those three direct rivals in the last three days of the league. Isaac Jové insists on that extra effort in this hectic final sprint. “They know that they are playing a lot. Now are the important moments of a footballer and they have to put everything on the grill.