Despite being in third and fourth place weeks ago, both teams are now outside the top spots in the standings. The margins, however, are small, especially for Barakaldo, who are sixth with 48 points, just one point behind the third, fourth, and fifth positions held by Real Madrid B, Zamora, and Pontevedra, respectively.

Victories by these three teams on the thirty-second matchday of the championship have pushed Barakaldo out of a play-off spot. Bilbao Athletic, meanwhile, is five points away after suffering three consecutive defeats. Both the yellow-and-blacks and the red-and-whites need to react in the final stretch of the season to re-enter the top five. Barakaldo still has this goal within reach, despite their last two negative results. The defeat against Pontevedra (2-0) was followed by an unexpected draw last Sunday against Arenteiro at Lasesarre.

The team led by Imanol de la Sota could not get past a one-all draw against a last-place team that, ten points from safety, equalized Sabin Merino's initial goal to hold on until the final whistle. After the match, the yellow-and-black coach lamented in a press conference the lack of “forcefulness” and “brilliance” to overcome Arenteiro, but emphasized the group's effort.

A direct clash awaits Barakaldo in the next matchday, as they will visit Ponferradina on Sunday at 16:00. Ponferradina is one point behind the factory team in the standings and managed a goalless draw in the first-round match at Lasesarre. The team from Ezkerraldea will try to rediscover victory after three matchdays.

In the case of Bilbao Athletic, their three consecutive defeats against Celta B (2-1), Talavera (1-2), and last Friday against Cacereño (1-0), the third-to-last placed team, have pushed them back to twelfth position. With a nine-point margin over the relegation zone, the 'cachorros' are two games away from a play-off spot that is in danger if they do not react immediately. The red-and-white team has only achieved one victory in the last six matchdays and has seen a decline in performance over the last month and a half of competition.

Like Barakaldo, the 'cachorros' will also play on Sunday, but at home in Lezama. The match against Racing de Ferrol is scheduled for 12:00, a rival that is one position behind Bilbao Athletic with two fewer points. The Bilbao team will maintain the head-to-head goal difference in their favor if they manage to get at least one point, as they won 0-1 in the first-round match played at the Estadio Municipal da Malata.

The objective, however, will be none other than to secure all three points, having collected only one of the last twelve available. Jokin Arambarri's team will need to improve their performance and gain forcefulness, a recipe for success shared with Barakaldo, who will also seek to return to winning ways and reclaim play-off positions.