Messi983
Senior Member
Segunda should again be interesting this season with many teams having good chances for promotion.
Girona: They've sold Pedro Porro and Portu but have renewed Stuani's contract, signed Jonathan Soriano and brought Pablo Maffeo who has already played well for them in the past on loan. On paper they have the best team in the league and are favourites for a fast return back to La Liga.
Rayo Vallecano: Paco Jemez will try to promote Rayo back to La Liga. Alex Moreno was sold to Betis but Antonio Luna should replace him well. 19 yo forward Andres Martin is one of the names to keep an eye on this season.
Huesca: They haven't spend much money even after cashing on Enric Gallego who left for Getafe after only being signed midseason from Segunda Division. Veteran midfielder Mikel Rico has signed on a free transfer and Huesca also brought some interesting players on loan, including former La Masia product Sergio Gomez from Dortmund and Cristo Gonzalez who has scored 20 goals in Segunda B last season for RM Castilla.
Deportivo La Coruna: Very active on the last day of the transfer window when they've bought two promising youngsters (CB Francisco Montero, LW Victor Mollejo) from Atletico on loan. Other new signings who should have an important role this season are Gaku Shibasaki and Ager Aketxe.
Real Zaragoza: There were not many changes in the team so this should work in their favour. Pep Biel who had a good second half of the last season after Victor Fernandez took over as a manager was sold but will be replaced by Shinji Kagawa who is probably the most interesting signing any Segunda team made this summer. Zaragoza will also be happy to get back on loan Alberto Soro who was bought by Real Madrid.
Las Palmas:: Jonathan Viera is returning on loan from his Chinese club until December. Mauricio Lemos is returning after unsuccessful loan at Sassuolo to improve defense. Even with Sergio Araujo and Tomas Pekhart around they will probably still be mostly depending on goals from 38 yo Ruben Castro. Many Barça fans will also follow 16 year old Pedri who Barça bought on the last day of transfer window and loaned him back to Las Palmas.
Almeria: Probably the most talked about Segunda team over the last month and for a good reason. Since Turki Al-Sheikh bought the club last month they've spend almost as much money on signing talented young players as the rest of the league together. 18 yo winger Arvin Appiah (9M) and 20 yo striker Darwin Nunez (4M) were the most expensive signings but they also got Ante Coric on loan from Roma. Time will tell if/how their project will work but it's an interesting one for sure.
Sporting Gijon: They've sold backup GK Dani Martin to Betis for 5M and used this money very well to bring back former Sporting academy player Manu Garcia from Man City. 21 yo attacking midfielder should be a key player and a good replacement for Moi Gomez who has returned to Villarreal. Veteran midfielder Javi Fuego is also back at El Molinon after more than a decade.
Malaga: Not a very good transfer window for Malaga after non-promotion which pushed them to sell important players like Federico Ricca and Javi Ontiveros. They've signed Shinji Okazaki but had to release him before he played his first official game because they couldn't register him. A name to follow could be Lorenzo Gonzalez, a young forward brought on loan from Man City in last hours of transfer window.
Cadiz: One of the most consistent Segunda division teams since Alvaro Cervera took over in April 2016 and got them promoted from Segunda B. They were already in La Liga promotion play-offs a year later and finished 9th and 7th in last two seasons. This year could be tougher with both of the top scorers (Manu Vallejo, Darwin Machis) from last season gone but Cadiz have started the season well as they are (alongside a surprising Fuenlabrada who are playing in Segunda for the first time in their history) the only team with 9 points from 3 games.
Surprises are always possible (like Mallorca last year) but I think we'll most likely find three promoted clubs among these 10 teams.
Girona: They've sold Pedro Porro and Portu but have renewed Stuani's contract, signed Jonathan Soriano and brought Pablo Maffeo who has already played well for them in the past on loan. On paper they have the best team in the league and are favourites for a fast return back to La Liga.
Rayo Vallecano: Paco Jemez will try to promote Rayo back to La Liga. Alex Moreno was sold to Betis but Antonio Luna should replace him well. 19 yo forward Andres Martin is one of the names to keep an eye on this season.
Huesca: They haven't spend much money even after cashing on Enric Gallego who left for Getafe after only being signed midseason from Segunda Division. Veteran midfielder Mikel Rico has signed on a free transfer and Huesca also brought some interesting players on loan, including former La Masia product Sergio Gomez from Dortmund and Cristo Gonzalez who has scored 20 goals in Segunda B last season for RM Castilla.
Deportivo La Coruna: Very active on the last day of the transfer window when they've bought two promising youngsters (CB Francisco Montero, LW Victor Mollejo) from Atletico on loan. Other new signings who should have an important role this season are Gaku Shibasaki and Ager Aketxe.
Real Zaragoza: There were not many changes in the team so this should work in their favour. Pep Biel who had a good second half of the last season after Victor Fernandez took over as a manager was sold but will be replaced by Shinji Kagawa who is probably the most interesting signing any Segunda team made this summer. Zaragoza will also be happy to get back on loan Alberto Soro who was bought by Real Madrid.
Las Palmas:: Jonathan Viera is returning on loan from his Chinese club until December. Mauricio Lemos is returning after unsuccessful loan at Sassuolo to improve defense. Even with Sergio Araujo and Tomas Pekhart around they will probably still be mostly depending on goals from 38 yo Ruben Castro. Many Barça fans will also follow 16 year old Pedri who Barça bought on the last day of transfer window and loaned him back to Las Palmas.
Almeria: Probably the most talked about Segunda team over the last month and for a good reason. Since Turki Al-Sheikh bought the club last month they've spend almost as much money on signing talented young players as the rest of the league together. 18 yo winger Arvin Appiah (9M) and 20 yo striker Darwin Nunez (4M) were the most expensive signings but they also got Ante Coric on loan from Roma. Time will tell if/how their project will work but it's an interesting one for sure.
Sporting Gijon: They've sold backup GK Dani Martin to Betis for 5M and used this money very well to bring back former Sporting academy player Manu Garcia from Man City. 21 yo attacking midfielder should be a key player and a good replacement for Moi Gomez who has returned to Villarreal. Veteran midfielder Javi Fuego is also back at El Molinon after more than a decade.
Malaga: Not a very good transfer window for Malaga after non-promotion which pushed them to sell important players like Federico Ricca and Javi Ontiveros. They've signed Shinji Okazaki but had to release him before he played his first official game because they couldn't register him. A name to follow could be Lorenzo Gonzalez, a young forward brought on loan from Man City in last hours of transfer window.
Cadiz: One of the most consistent Segunda division teams since Alvaro Cervera took over in April 2016 and got them promoted from Segunda B. They were already in La Liga promotion play-offs a year later and finished 9th and 7th in last two seasons. This year could be tougher with both of the top scorers (Manu Vallejo, Darwin Machis) from last season gone but Cadiz have started the season well as they are (alongside a surprising Fuenlabrada who are playing in Segunda for the first time in their history) the only team with 9 points from 3 games.
Surprises are always possible (like Mallorca last year) but I think we'll most likely find three promoted clubs among these 10 teams.
