Las Palmas vs Albacete

Las Palmas host Albacete on 16 August 2026 in the opening round of the Segunda División season, with both sides aiming to make an early statement in the promotion race. The hosts, under coach Rubén de la Barrera, will look to harness home comfort while a deeply renovated Albacete side travels with a revamped attack.

Las Palmas: Promotion Ambitions Under De la Barrera

President Miguel Ángel Ramírez has been insistent that the team must start the campaign "with the accelerator fully pressed, from humility". After missing out on a return to the top flight, the island club has retained a core built for the promotion fight, and De la Barrera has used a full pre‑season to instil his ideas. The expectation is clear: nothing less than a sustained challenge for the top two.

Albacete’s Rebuilt Forward Line

Albacete arrive with a new‑look squad assembled by sporting director Toché. Striker Mario Soberón joined after a difficult year with the firm goal of proving himself through goals and daily work, while Ortuño broke his contract with Cádiz to join the Manchegan outfit, attracted by the "joyful and competitive" football promised by the coaching staff. They join an attack that still boasts last season’s top scorers Jefté (10 goals), Puertas (8) and Agus Medina (7). In their last home match of the previous campaign, Albacete demonstrated their firepower with a 4‑1 victory over Granada.

Key Battle: De la Barrera’s Defence vs Ortuño and Soberón

The unknown factor is how well the new Albacete partnership gels in a competitive setting. Ortuño’s physical presence and Soberón’s hunger for redemption will test Las Palmas’ backline, which must stay compact and resist the instinct to drop too deep, denying space for the visitors’ midfield runners.

Form Guide

Albacete ended the previous Segunda División season in a comfortable 13th position with 47 points, showing their ceiling with the 4‑1 demolition of Granada but also suffering defeats to Leganés and Burgos in the final weeks. Las Palmas come into the opener with no recent competitive form to assess, though pre‑season preparations have been described as intense and focused.