Castellón vs Albacete

Castellón host Albacete in the Segunda División on Sunday, with the hosts aiming to continue their promising start to the campaign. Pablo Hernández's side are unbeaten in six away league matches stretching back to last season and will look to turn that resilience into a statement home performance.

Team News and Injury Latest

Castellón boss Pablo Hernández has a near fully fit squad to choose from, with only centre-back Fabrizio Brignani ruled out. The Italian defender continues to recover from a cruciate ligament injury and is the sole absentee for the hosts. Hernández has favoured a settled side in the early rounds, with Álvaro Marín leading the line and Bernard Somuah offering support from wide areas.

Albacete have not reported any fresh injury worries following their midweek fixtures. The visitors are expected to field a similar lineup to the one that suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad B, a result that will have stung a side that drew 1-1 with Castellón in the same fixture last season.

Castellón's Resolute Form

Hernández's men have built a reputation for being tough to beat on the road. Their six-match unbeaten away sequence includes a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad B on the opening day, a 1-0 victory at Huesca in May, and a 3-2 triumph at Málaga in April. The run also features draws at Ceuta, Mirandés and – crucially – a 1-1 stalemate at Albacete in March 2026.

That consistency almost carried Castellón into the promotion play-offs last term. They finished with 72 points, level with Burgos, but missed out on tiebreakers. The early signs this season suggest they are determined to go one better. Marín has already found the net twice in the opening rounds, and the team's defensive shape – which conceded just once in three of those away games – remains a foundation.

Albacete Looking to Recover

Albacete's recent 2-1 home loss to Real Sociedad B was a setback they will want to put behind them quickly. The defeat exposed some familiar frailties; they conceded 1.45 goals per match last season, a vulnerability that resurfaced as the Basque side scored twice at their ground. On the road, Albacete will need to be far more compact if they are to take anything from a Castellón team that has shown it can grind out results.

The 1-1 draw in March offers a template. Albacete frustrated Castellón that day, holding them at arm's length and striking on the break. Manager Alberto González will likely set his side up in a similar disciplined fashion, looking to the pace of their wide forwards to exploit any gaps behind the home defence.

Key Battle: Marín vs Albacete's Back Line

Álvaro Marín has been Castellón's standout performer in the early weeks. The forward has two goals to his name already and his movement in the box poses a constant threat. Albacete's centre-backs will need to track his runs carefully, particularly from crosses delivered by the energetic Castellón wing-backs. If they can keep Marín quiet, the visitors will have a platform to build on; if not, the home side's momentum could prove overwhelming.

What's Next?

Castellón face a tough trip to Girona next weekend, while Albacete return home to meet a side aiming to climb the table. For now, both teams will be focused on the three points on offer in Castellón, where the hosts will be determined to maintain their unbeaten feel and the visitors will be desperate to avoid a second straight defeat.