Inside Athletic

The Spanish Football Federation has released plans for how to finish the remainder of the season which will see youth football canceled, but the Segunda B and Tercera will still  have promotional playoffs if allowed by the Ministry of Health. Although it’s been determined that there will be no relegation, clubs will have the opportunity to compete for promotion.

There won’t be many changes to the playoff format in the Segunda B. The top four teams in each group will qualify for the promotional playoffs which will include Bilbao Athletic who are currently tied on points with Cultural Durango for second in the table, although Joseba Etxeberria’s side are third due to tie-breakers. Atlético Madrid B, Sabadell, and Badajoz will be Bilbao Athletic’s possible opponents in the first round.

Basconia, who currently occupy the 4th place spot in their table, will qualify for the Tercera promotional playoffs. Unlike the SegundaB , the Tercera format will be very different than usual. The top four in each group will compete in single-elimination matches to determine which club is promoted to the Segunda B.

In this format, Basconia will face off with leaders Sestao River while the other match will be Portugalete vs. Vitoria. The games will take place at a venue determined by the Basque Football Federation and the winners will meet in the second round where promotion will be on the line. This will be the first time in 17 years that Bilbao Athletic and Basconia will compete in promotional playoffs at the same time.

On another note, with the remainder of the Juvenil season being canceled Athletic’s Juvenil A team have been named champions of the División de Honor Group II. The Kumeak held a 9 point lead over Real Sociedad at the top of the table with just five games left before the football stoppage. Normally, Imanol De La Sota’s side would qualify for the Copa del Campeones and Copa del Rey Juvenil, but those tournaments will not be played due to health concerns.