Badalona Faces Rebuilding Season After Playoff Final Loss

CF Badalona’s aspirations for promotion to Segunda Federación have been dashed, leading the club to shift its focus entirely to preparing for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The team, which boasted one of the highest budgets in the league and was built with direct promotion in mind, ultimately fell short in the playoff final against Compostela.

Missed Opportunities

Despite leading for many weeks during the regular season, Badalona faltered in the crucial final stages. A single point in April and a significant 4-1 defeat against Manresa, who secured direct promotion, proved to be turning points that led to the departure of coach Dólera. Mikel Azparren took over, guiding the team through the remaining league games and into the playoffs, where they ultimately lost in the final.

The first leg of the playoff final saw Badalona suffer a 3-0 defeat away to Compostela, a deficit they were unable to overcome despite winning the home leg 2-0. Club president Miguel Ángel Sánchez expressed his disappointment, stating, “In general terms, the season’s assessment is that it was a shame because we were leaders practically all year. But we lost at key moments, against Manresa and L’Escala, and everything went to waste.” He lamented the playoff final, adding, “We were on the verge of promotion. If the match had lasted 10 more minutes, I am convinced we would have drawn the tie. Because they didn’t even reach the goal once. But we weren’t very decisive in our finishing, and that conditioned us.”

Key facts

Looking Ahead

With the immediate disappointment behind them, Badalona is now focused on rebuilding for the next campaign. The club has appointed Genís Sampietro, a former coach of Vilanova and a figure who previously led Badalona’s youth team to a Copa del Rey semi-final, as their new head coach. This move sees Mikel Azparren return to his previous role within the technical secretariat of the CF Badalona Foundation.

Club president Miguel Ángel Sánchez reaffirmed the club’s commitment to its objectives, stating that the project remains unchanged and the goal for the next season is still direct promotion. “We are going to maintain the same budget and we will try to ensure that promotion does not slip away next year as league champions,” he said. However, he acknowledged the increasing challenges, noting, “It’s not going to be easy at all. Some teams are coming in very strong this season, offering a lot of money, and we are having trouble securing renewals for several players.”

The club’s strategic planning for the 2026-2027 season is already underway, with player renewals and new signings forming the immediate priorities. The ambition remains high, with the expectation of achieving immediate promotion back to the third tier of Spanish football.

Source: Mundo Deportivo Futbol – https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/futbol-catala/20260623/1004198279/badalona-le-queda-pensar-nueva-temporada.html