Elche Club de Fútbol has secured their return to La Liga after finishing second in Spain's Segunda Division with 77 points. The club from the palm tree city completed their comeback to elite Spanish football just two years after their relegation.
"This promotion is the result of hard work and determination from everyone at the club. We're thrilled to bring top-flight football back to our fans," – a club representative stated following the achievement.
The team from Elche finished behind only Levante, who topped the table with 79 points and had secured their own La Liga return earlier in the season. Both clubs have now earned direct promotion spots to the Spanish top division.
Interestingly, this rapid return to La Liga comes after a disappointing 11th-place finish in their first season following relegation from the top flight in 2022/23, when they finished at the bottom of the table. The turnaround in form this season has been remarkable.
According to Statbet analysis, promoted teams from Segunda Division have a 40% chance of avoiding immediate relegation in their first La Liga season – a challenge that both Elche and Levante will soon face.
Meanwhile, the battle for the third and final promotion spot continues through the playoffs. Real Oviedo will face Almeria, while Mirandes takes on Racing in what promises to be an intense conclusion to the Segunda Division season.
Can Elche establish themselves in La Liga this time around? Their previous stint ended in disappointment, but with momentum from this successful campaign, fans are hopeful for a different outcome.
