Hondarribia has a prime opportunity to be promoted to the Regional Honor Division if they secure a victory this Saturday in the derby they will play against Behobia at the Artia ground. The team aims to return to this category eight years after their last participation, solidifying their status as a league classic.

Meanwhile, Behobia urgently needs to secure three points to keep their survival hopes alive. The match, scheduled to kick off at 3:30 PM in Artia, will pit two teams with very different objectives against each other.

Javier Etxebeste, Hondarribia's coach, expressed surprise at the recent stumbles of his two main pursuers in the standings, Ostar and Roteta, during the last matchday. "We didn't expect both to drop points, but every game is very difficult. We also lost against Allerru, which we didn't anticipate either. Let's see if we manage to win this weekend," he stated.

However, the coach is fully aware of the match's difficulty, especially as his opponent is using its last chances to avoid relegation. "Behobia is also fighting against relegation. It's a small field where it's not easy to win, but I see the team with confidence and enthusiasm to compete and win the match, knowing it will be very tough," he added. Hondarribia has spent eight years in Regional Preferente; therefore, this promotion would signify a return to what has historically been their natural habitat.

When asked about the keys that have led the team to be on the brink of championship with only one match remaining, the coach praised his players, highlighting their value as a human group above the strictly sporting aspect: "They have been very united from the start. They are local people, young individuals who have come together for various activities outside of football. This group unity, combined with their drive, enthusiasm, and competitiveness, has propelled the team to the top."

The fact that the match is a derby is expected to draw a significant number of Hondarribia fans to Artia. Etxebeste anticipates a gala atmosphere: "Being close to home will help them come and cheer us on, just as the Behobia fans did in the match at Hondartza, where they brought a lot of support. We hope the stadium will be very full, and that we can take the three points home without having to wait for other results. And that we become champions."

Behobia, on its part, is compelled to win to attempt to secure permanence. Santi Martínez, their coach, states that "only a win is good enough for us, it's a final for us," eagerly awaiting the match time to "show the people who come to support us that we are not giving up, that we are not dead yet, and that we will not surrender until the end."

Santi Martínez acknowledges the difficulty of facing a leader on the verge of promotion, commenting that "they are having a fantastic season. They are coming with extreme need too, we both have a lot at stake." He concludes that what is certain is that there will be a great atmosphere in Artia: "Each one will fight for their own cause, but there will surely be a great, noble, and sporting atmosphere." A derby of the highest caliber. Artia will deliver the verdict.