Badalona holds 2-0 edge as decisive second leg vs L'Hospitalet kicks off tonight

CF Badalona takes a 2-0 advantage into Sunday’s second leg against CE L’Hospitalet at the Nou Estadi in Badalona, with a place in the Catalan regional final of the promotion race to Segunda Federación at stake. Mundo Deportivo listed kickoff for 18:00 local time on May 24 and published projected lineups for both teams. Badalona’s club website described the first leg, played on May 17, as a tense match in which the visitors went ahead through a penalty and finished with a two-goal win. L’Hospitalet’s website listed the return as part of the “1ª eliminatoria” of the promotion playoff and said the match would be played at the Estadi Municipal de Badalona. ### How big is Badalona’s lead going into the return? The 2-0 score from the first leg gives Badalona control of the tie before Sunday evening’s return. Badalona’s official site said the team won 2-0 away from home on May 17, while L’Hospitalet’s site carried the same result under the headline “El Hospi creerá hasta el final,” signaling that the visitors would need a comeback in the second leg. (mundodeportivo.com) Mundo Deportivo said the first game turned further against L’Hospitalet when Sergio Aguza was sent off and the team also lost Rubi and Uri González to injury. The report added that, even with 10 men, the side coached by Sergio Juste created chances through Javi Serra and Buba while trailing 1-0. (cfbadalona.net) ### Who is expected to start at the Nou Estadi? Mundo Deportivo projected Badalona to start Azón in goal, with Yaya Sidibé, Manrique, Marco and De Marco across the back line. The expected midfield and attack included Bermúdez, Jaume Piñol, Tom Diawara, Toni Larrosa, Joaco Peñalver and Òscar Gómez, according to the preview. (mundodeportivo.com) The same report listed Adrià Aliaga, Vitalie, Marimón, Antonio Pelegrín, Dani Hernández, Javi Serra, Adri García, Dani Molina, Joel Lasso, Flavio Ribeiro and Ignasi Quer as L’Hospitalet’s likely starters. Josep Ollé Lladó of the Tarragona delegation was named as referee. (mundodeportivo.com) ### What absences could shape the match? Mikel Azparren could repeat the same starting eleven from the first leg, Mundo Deportivo said, but the Badalona coach is expected to be without injured player Víctor Morales. The report also said Josu Rodríguez was left out after suffering a domestic accident that required surgery. (mundodeportivo.com) L’Hospitalet arrives with fresher concerns from the first leg. Mundo Deportivo said Rubi and Uri González were injured in that game, and Sergio Aguza’s dismissal left the side undermanned during a key stretch of the opening meeting. ### What does the winner get from this round? (mundodeportivo.com) The winner of Badalona-L’Hospitalet will advance to another two-leg tie against the winner of UE Cornellà against FC Vilanova, according to Mundo Deportivo. That match was scheduled earlier Sunday at 12:30 local time. (mundodeportivo.com) The regional final is not the last step. Mundo Deportivo said the team that comes through the Catalan bracket would then face the qualifier from Galicia in the decisive round for promotion to Segunda Federación. ### Why has the match drawn so much local attention? (mundodeportivo.com) Badalona and L’Hospitalet are playing in a promotion path that carries sporting and financial weight for clubs at this level, and Mundo Deportivo framed Sunday’s games as a fight for a place in the “final autonómica.” The paper also said Badalona expected a strong turnout and hoped the stands would produce their best atmosphere of the season. (mundodeportivo.com) L’Hospitalet’s own website struck a similar tone before the return leg, posting the line “El Hospi creerá hasta el final” alongside the first-leg result and the listing for Sunday’s 18:00 kickoff. That left the tie set for a final decision in Badalona on May 24, with the regional final against either Cornellà or Vilanova awaiting the survivor. (celh.es) (mundodeportivo.com)