Former Brazil striker Ronaldo welcomed Valladolid’s return to Spain’s top flight on Sunday.
The squad owned by the Brazilian legend earned its status in the first division after defeating Huesca 3-0 at home, while Eibar fell 1-0 to last-place Alcorcon.
Valladolid entered the last round in third place, behind Eibar and one of the two automatic first-division places.
Almeria, who was purchased by Saudi Arabian Turki al-Sheikh in 2019, finished first after a 2-2 draw with Leganes and will return to the top flight for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.
Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup champion and former Real Madrid and Barcelona striker, purchased a 51 percent ownership in Valladolid in 2018 while the club was still in the first tier.
“It was a complicated season, with a pandemic and all,” Ronaldo told Spanish media. “This is incredible. We worked hard and we fought, and even though we suffered until the last minute, we achieved the goal of returning to the first division.”
Ronaldo, who was in France for the Champions League final on Saturday, joined his teammates on the field after the encounter in Valladolid on Sunday.
“It’s a great triumph by this squad, the coaching staff, and the fans,” Ronaldo said. “We have to enjoy it. We are back where we deserve to be.”
Valladolid had spent four consecutive seasons in the second level before the 2018-19 season.
Eibar had spent seven consecutive seasons in the top division before being relegated last season and needed a win to achieve promotion without relying on other results. In stoppage time, it conceded to Alcorcón!
Eibar can still be promoted, but it will have to compete for the final playoff spot.
Las Palmas, which finished fourth after defeating Sporting Gijon 1-0, also advanced to the playoffs. Fifth-place Tenerife and sixth-place Girona had already secured their playoff positions.
Real Oviedo were the team to miss out in the playoff hunt as a result of losing 3-2 to Ibiza!
In one of the semi-finals, Eibar will face Girona, while Las Palmas will face Tenerife from the Canary Islands.
The final, which will again be contested over two legs, is scheduled for June 11 and 19.
There was little movement at the bottom of the standings, with the bottom four already guaranteed for relegation.
