UD Las Palmas finds itself in a critical situation ahead of the final rounds of the Segunda División season. After a heavy defeat in Andorra, where the team lost 1-5, the club has no margin for error. Now, only a win in the upcoming match against Almería keeps their real chances for direct promotion to La Liga alive. In the event of a draw or loss, the gap with Almería will grow to eight points, with only six left up for grabs, effectively closing the path to the top two.
The match will take place at Almería Stadium, where the hosts are considered the strongest in the league at home: 44 points, 14 wins, and just three defeats. For UD Las Palmas, this will be a real test—only a few teams have managed to take three points from here. The visitors’ line-up is expected to remain largely unchanged: Horkas will stay in goal, while the defense will be weakened by the injury to Sergio Barcia. In attack, Jesé will again play a key role, as he is tasked with leading the team forward in this decisive match.
The coaching staff is considering strengthening the right flank with Marvin Park, but Miyashiro, who has shown strong performances, has the edge. In central midfield, Amatucci and Kirian will feature, with Pedrola and either Miyashiro or Marvin on the wings. Fuster will play behind the striker. If successful, UD Las Palmas will not only close the gap to Almería but may also level the head-to-head record, an important factor for the final standings.
The match will take place on Saturday, April 16, at 17:30 local time. The referee will be Luis Bestard from the Balearic Islands Committee. The broadcast is scheduled on Movistar, DAZN, and Orange. Almería is expected to line up as follows: Andrés Fernández; Luna, Ely, Bonini, Muñoz; Baba, Dzodic; Baptistao, Arribas, Embarba; Miguel. For the visitors: Horkas; Viti, Herzog, Mika Mármol, Enrique Clemente; Amatucci, Kirian; Pedrola, Miyashiro, Manu Fuster; Jesé.
The situation is reminiscent of other tense moments in the season when the fate of the teams was decided in the final rounds. For example, recently Real Sociedad B and Mirandés found themselves in a similar position, fighting for survival in LaLiga Hypermotion — details about that battle can be found here. For UD Las Palmas, this match is not just another game, but effectively a final, with the entire season at stake.
Only three rounds remain in the Segunda División. Only the top two teams win direct promotion; the others are forced to go through the playoffs, where the competition and pressure are much higher. For UD Las Palmas, a victory over Almería is the only chance to avoid a long and nerve-wracking playoff path. Otherwise, the club will have to rely on success in a knockout series, where the outcome is less predictable.