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Italy
Livorno head coach Davide Nicola (C) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie B playoff final match between Empoli FC and AS Livorno
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The finalists of the Italian playoffs are now known as Livorno, who finished in third place, will face Empoli who ended fourth in a two legged game with the winners entering next season’s Serie A. Livorno met Brescia in the playoffs and progressed thanks to two 1-1 draws (Livorno qualifying for the final due to the fact they ended the season above Brescia). The other playoff semi final was between Empoli and Novara and after the first leg ended 1-1, Empoli routed Novara 4-1 in the second leg, meaning they line up against local rivals Livorno. The first leg was played on Wednesday and ended all square thanks to a superb strike from Joseph Duncan earning Livorno a draw and making them big favourites for the return leg this Sunday.
Spain
With Elche already having secured promotion and the title, all eyes are on the race for the other automatic promotion place which, with just two games remaining is between three sides, all of whom won at the weekend. Villarreal beat relegated Xerez 3-2 and remain in second place over Almeria courtesy of a better goal difference (their head to head is level having drawn 1-1 earlier in the season, they meet on the final day). Almeria all but ended Alcorcon’s automatic promotion hopes as Liga Adelante’s leading scorer Charles struck twice in a 3-0 win. Girona keep track with their promotion rivals after Javi Acuna scored the only goal in the 1-0 with over local rivals Barcelona B in front of almost 9000 fans. Girona face Almeria next weekend and are currently just one point behind. Alcorcon are fifth on 66 points, two ahead of Ponferradina who won 2-0 at lowly Murcia and climbed into the last playoff place at the expense of Las Palmas, who were beaten at Mirandes.
Mirandes win over Las Palmas leaves them one place above the drop zone but four points ahead of Racing Santander and five ahead of Huesca and Murcia, so a win over Cordoba next weekend will relegate the tree teams below them regardless of their results. Xerez were relegated several weeks ago and cannot climb off the foot of the table.
