UD Almería take on Racing Santander in official curtain-raiser for new season
UD Almería learn their schedule on fixture release day. New LaLiga Hypermotion season starts on weekend of August 17/18. On Matchday 2, the Rojiblancos will also have to take a trip to Tenerife
UD Almería take on Racing de Santander away from home in official curtain-raiser for the new LaLiga Hypermotion season as determined by the calendar draw that has been announced this Wednesday, 26 June. The match, which will take place at the El Sardinero stadium, will be played on the weekend of 17-18 August, with the specific date and kick-off time still to be confirmed.
The Rojiblancos will have to wait until Matchday 3 to debut in the second tier at the Power Horse Stadium against Sporting de Gijón since on the Matchday 2, they will also go on a trip to Tenerife. The Club had asked LaLiga to start the competition as a visiting team to avoid coinciding with the Almería Fair 2024, but in the end there will be two games that will have to be played away, so the start of LaLiga Hypermotion will be really demanding and complicated for the team.
The tournament in the second tier of Spanish football ends on 1st June as far as the regular league is concerned. Then, between 7th and 22nd June, the promotion play-offs will take place. There will be two midweek fixtures per week and there will be no international break as in the first division. LaLiga breaks up for Christmas holidays between 22nd December (UD Almería vs Cádiz CF) and 11th January (Córdoba CF vs UD Almería).
The Andalusian outfits are the most numerous in the second division this campaign (5) with the first Andalusian derby being held on Matchday 13 when the Indálicos host Córdoba CF. If on the first two dates, UD Almería will have to make two trips, on Matchdays 5 and 6, they will play consecutively on home turf against newly-promoted CD Castellón and SD Eibar, who have been competing in the promotion play-offs for the last few seasons.
Segunda is going to be a tough affair due to the high level of the participants. 18 of them have already played in the top tier of Spanish football with extensive experience. Those promoted are historic clubs such as Deportivo de La Coruña, CD Castellón, Málaga CF and Córdoba CF, and those relegated from Primera, UD Almería, Granada CF and Cádiz CF.
Teams such as Sporting de Gijón, Real Oviedo, Real Zaragoza, Elche CF, Levante UD, CD Tenerife were already in the top flight... Without a doubt, a tough-looking competition to regain promotion.