Old friends to return?

As the season is drawing to a close, I thought I would try and find out a little bit about the Spanish Segunda Division. Being based in England, you have to go hunting for info on the second tier, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to educate myself further on Spanish football.

Upon looking at the league table, with 35 of 42 games played, the first thing I notice is that we should be welcoming back an old friend into next year's Primera Liga. Real Betis, based in the Andalucian city of Seville, currently sit top of the table, ahead of Rayo Vallecano, themselves former members of the top flight, on the head to head rule. The top two are nine points ahead of another legendary club, Celta de Vigo. Barca Athletic sit fourth, currently in the playoff positions. However, under Spanish football rules, a club's "B" team cannot play in the same division as the senior team. Therefore, as it stands, the team in seventh, currently Valladolid, would enter the playoffs.

I for one will be delighted to see Real Betis back in the big time. Relegated in 2008-09, they are in their second season in the Segunda. Ironically, they were relegated from the top flight on a head-to-head record with Getafe, and in their first attempt at promotion, they missed out thanks to inferior head-to-head records against Levante and Hercules.

The stadium, Estadio Benito Villamarin, has always been a hostile and uncomfortable place for visiting teams to play. With a capactiy of over 52,000, it will be the fifth biggest stadium in La Liga (there are two unused stadiums in Spain that hold more: Lluis Companys, Espanyol's stadium until last season, holds just under 56,000, and Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, which holds 57,619). It certainly is a formidable sight, especially when the locals are all decked out in the team's iconic green and white stripes.

So, what are their chances next season if they do seal promotion in the coming weeks? Well, their squad seems pretty strong on the face of it. They have a very good goalkeeper in Inaki Goitia, and some strong defenders, with the likes of Miki Roque, Isidoro and Jose Dorado all playing important roles this season. There is a lot of experience in midfield, and up front, they have two of the top scorers in the Segunda this season. Ruben Castro, especially, is an ever present player this term, and has 19 goals in his 35 appearances. Also chipping in with goals are Jorge Molina (15 in 27) and Achille Emana (13 in 24).

If they can maintain the nucleus of their squad, and with the right additions, they should be able to cement a place in the Primera Liga for some years to come. They have been missed for these last two seasons, and every fan of Spanish football should welcome them back with open arms.