The fairytale has turned into a nightmare for CD Mirandés. Just one year after coming within touching distance of La Liga, the club from Castile and León has suffered relegation to Spain’s third tier. A decisive 0-1 defeat to Leganés on the final day of the Liga 2 season sent them down, completing a dramatic fall from grace.
The match at Estadio Municipal de Anduva was always going to be a tense affair. Both Mirandés and Leganés entered the 42nd and final round knowing the loser would drop into the Spanish third division. The stakes could not have been higher, and the action on the pitch reflected the immense pressure.
Mirandés thought they had found the breakthrough just before half-time. Salim El Jebari put the ball in the net in the 45th+1 minute, sparking wild celebrations. However, the goal was disallowed, a decision that proved seismic. The hosts were left ruing what might have been as they headed into the break level.
After the interval, Leganés grew in confidence. The decisive moment arrived in the 67th minute when Alejandro Millan struck the only goal of the game. His shot sent the visiting fans into raptures and left Mirandés staring at the abyss. Despite desperate late pressure, the home side could not find an equalizer.
To understand the magnitude of this relegation, one must recall the heady days of the previous season. In 2025, Mirandés embarked on a remarkable cup run and finished high enough to reach the promotion playoffs. They fought all the way to the final, only to lose to Real Oviedo after extra time. It was a gut-wrenching near-miss, but the club seemed poised to build on that success.
Instead, this campaign unravelled. Mirandés struggled for consistency and found themselves in the relegation mix throughout the season. The loss to Leganés was the final blow, sealing a 19th-place finish and a return to the third division for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. For a club that had tasted the possibility of top-flight football, the drop represents a crushing setback.
The fall from playoff finalists to relegation in less than 12 months is a stark reminder of football’s unforgiving nature. Mirandés’s squad, which had overachieved so spectacularly, was unable to maintain the same intensity. Key departures and an inability to replace vital players likely played a role, though the club’s leadership will now face tough questions.
Mirandés is not alone in its descent. Huesca finished 20th, Cultural Leonesa 21st, and former La Liga regulars Real Zaragoza completed the relegated quartet in 22nd place. It marks a significant shift for several historic clubs, with Zaragoza’s demise drawing particular attention given their past stature as Copa del Rey winners and European participants.
For the Mirandés players and staff, the final whistle brought a mixture of disbelief and sorrow. As Leganés celebrated survival, the home side slumped to the ground, the contrast in emotions brutally evident. The club now faces a long and uncertain summer, with the challenge of regrouping in the third division.
The economic implications are severe. Revenue from broadcasting and commercial deals will shrink, and the club may have to part with talented players to balance the books. The dream of a return to La Liga, which seemed so close last year, has become a distant hope. Rebuilding in the third tier will require patience and astute management.
Fans will look back at the disallowed goal as the moment it all slipped away. Football can hinge on such fine margins, and Mirandés discovered that in the cruelest way. The journey back to the second division will be tough, but the club has defied the odds before — their previous rise was built on a strong identity and smart recruitment.
For now, the raw emotion of the final day defeat will take time to process. Mirandés’s story is a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can change in the lower leagues. As the club prepares for life in D3, the memory of that lost promotion final and the subsequent freefall will serve as motivation — and a painful reminder — for the seasons ahead.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.