Bidding to reach La Liga for the first time since 2005, Albacete will welcome Levante to Estadio Carlos Belmonte on Saturday evening for the first leg of their Segunda Division playoff semi-final.

Albacete finished sixth in the Segunda Division table to qualify for the playoffs, while Levante, who were relegated from La Liga last season, were third, only missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference.

Match preview

Albacete have not operated in the top flight of Spanish football since the 2004-05 campaign, and they have actually spent five seasons in the third tier during that period of time, including in 2021-22.

Indeed, the club are looking to make it back-to-back promotions, having finished sixth in this season's Segunda Division table, boasting 67 points from their 62 matches.

Alba were actually eight points ahead of seventh-place Andorra in the end, while they were only five points off the automatic promotion spots, which is a further indication of their achievements this season.

Ruben Albes's side went seven games unbeaten at the end of their domestic campaign, picking up four wins in the process, including a 2-1 success over Mirandes on the final matchday.

Albacete had the sixth-best home record during the regular season, picking up 37 points from 21 matches, but they will be welcoming a Levante outfit who boasted the second-best record on their travels.

Levante dropped out of La Liga last season due to their 19th-place finish, but they are bidding to return to the top tier of Spanish football at the first time of asking.

Javier Calleja's side came so close to automatic qualification, finishing third in the table, level on points (72) with second-place Las Palmas; the two sides were also level on head-to-head points and head-to-head goal difference, so it was left to goal difference to decide the position behind Granada.

Levante will believe that they did enough to deserve to finish in the top two, but they must focus on their upcoming two-legged semi-final with Albacete, while there will be tough opposition in the final, with Alaves and Eibar competing in the other last-four contest.

The Frogs finished their season in strong form, picking up seven points from their last three games, including successive wins over Villarreal II and Real Oviedo.

Calleja's team also enjoyed the better of their two games against Albacete during the regular season, recording a 3-2 victory at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, although the reverse match ended goalless.

Team News

Albacete will be without the services of three players through injury, with Sergi Maestre, Juanma and Diegui on the sidelines for the home side.

Jonathan Dubasin has been the team's standout player in the final third of the field this season, scoring 11 times in all competitions, and he will again feature in an attacking area.

The hosts will also be boosted by the return of Lander Olaetxea following a suspension, and the Spaniard is expected to return to a midfield position on Saturday.

Levante, meanwhile, have three confirmed absentees in the shape of Jose Campana, Dani Cardenas and Pablo Martinez.

Robert Ibanez and Ruben Vezo are also major doubts for the visitors ahead of this match, with the duo set to undergo late fitness tests before their involvement is determined.

There could be a change in the final third of the field, with Wesley potentially getting the nod over Joni Montiel, but there will be another start for Mohamed Bouldini, who has scored eight goals during a strong campaign.

Albacete possible starting lineup:
Altube; A Rodriguez, Djetei, Antonio, Alonso; Dubasin, Olaetxea, Mesa, Alvarez; Bolivar, Escriche

Levante possible starting lineup:
Femenias; Pubill, Postigo, Pier, Saracchi; De Frutos, Pepelu, Iborra, Cantero; Wesley, Bouldini

We say: Albacete 1-2 Levante

Levante only lost three of their 21 away league games during the regular season, and they will fancy their chances of picking up a strong first-leg result on Saturday. Albacete's form this term deserves a lot of respect, but we are expecting Levante to win the first leg and ultimately progress to the final of the playoffs.

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