Atlético Madrileño faces Ponferradina in Segunda play-off

Atlético Madrileño, the Atlético de Madrid reserve team, will face Ponferradina in the LaLiga Hypermotion promotion play-off. Fernando Torres' side secured third place in the regular season after leading the table for much of the campaign. The play-off pathway now requires Atlético Madrileño to overcome Ponferradina to earn a spot in Segunda División. The fixture marks the reserve side’s final opportunity to secure promotion this season. Atlético Madrileño topped the table for significant periods during the regular season, accumulating enough points to secure a top-three finish. Their strong campaign fell just short of automatic promotion, which is awarded to the top two teams. Ponferradina finished below Atlético Madrileño in the standings but secured a play-off spot through consistent results. The club will now prepare to face the Madrid-based side in a high-stakes two-legged tie. Fernando Torres, Atlético de Madrid’s reserve team manager, led his squad to a third-place finish despite early-season dominance. The team’s form dipped in the latter stages, allowing other sides to close the gap. The play-off format involves two matches, with the winner advancing to Segunda División. Atlético Madrileño will host the first leg, with the return fixture to be played in Ponferradina. Atlético de Madrid’s hierarchy will closely monitor the play-off campaign as they aim to bolster their reserve team’s progression. The club continues to develop talent within its academy structure. Ponferradina enters the tie with experience in play-off football, having featured in promotion deciders in recent seasons. Their campaign reflected a steady rise through the league rather than a dominant push for automatic promotion. The play-off matches are scheduled for the upcoming weeks, with dates to be confirmed by LaLiga. Both teams will finalize preparations ahead of the first leg. Atlético Madrileño’s participation in the play-off highlights the competitive nature of the Segunda División B and the challenges of securing promotion from the reserves level.