This Monday afternoon, at the RFEF’s Luis Aragonés Hall within the Football City, the draw was held for the first qualifier of the second phase of national league championships, in Second B and Third Division. The first legs will take place on 21st and 22nd May, whilst the return legs will be a week later, the 27th and 28th May.
The Malaguista reserve team, who achieved second place of Third Division Group 9, will compete against Fútbol Club Vilafranca, the Barcelona-based side who finished in fourth place of Third Division Group 5. The first leg will take place in Cataluña, and the return leg in Málaga.
Manel Ruano, Atlético Malagueño coach, says of the play-off. “The Catalan-based rival is strong, it won’t be easy and they’ll demand a lot from us. Vilafranca could be likened to a rival in the top part of our group. We’re enthusiastic, eager and full of motivation. From the Club’s point of view, we’re not obliged to achieve promotion, nor is it an obsession. It has to be a consequence. We are the first ones to be demanding, and step by step we’ll try our best. Scoring and winning there will be important, but the qualifier can take many turns, both at home and away,” says the Catalan-born coach.
