The Segunda playoffs for La Liga are in full swing, with two decisive semi-final second legs set to come up in the next week to decide who meets in the final. This week, there was two first-leg ties; Girona beat Almeria while Rayo Vallecano beat Leganes.
Girona won 3-0 at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. Edgar Barcenas gave them the lead in the second minute before Yan Couto doubled their advantage in the fifth, with Mamadou Sylla sealing the deal with a third exactly an hour later.
Rayo Vallecano also won 3-0, at Vallecas. This game was goalless until the 73rd minute, when Alvaro Garcia put the hosts into the lead. Bebe, of Manchester United fame, made it 2-0 three minutes later, only to score his second in injury time.
The four clubs are fighting for a place in next season’s La Liga; Espanyol, champions, are already up, as are second-placed Mallorca. Whoever’s successful will be taking the place of Huesca, Real Valladolid and Eibar, who were relegated from La Liga this season.