Here’s what standing between Real Madrid Castilla and a place in the playoffs.

Real Madrid Castilla will start the second phase of the Segunda B season at home to Extremandura.

The Spanish football federation released the complete fixture list for the promotion phase of the 2020/21 Segunda B season with Castilla playing in Group 5 alongside Internacional de Madrid, San Sebastian de los Reyes, Badajoz, Telavera as well as their opening day opponents.

Based in western Spain, Extremandura finished runners up in subgroup B with 31 points. They were relegated from the Segunda division last year and represent a stern first test for Raul’s squad having won four of their last five games to qualify for the promotion phase.

The game will be played on April 4th, giving Raul’s team a week’s rest before they begin their fight for a playoff spot. Following that match, Castilla will travel to Badajoz, the best team in group 5 on paper, before a second home game against Talavera. For reasons known only to the organizers, Castilla will not play games against Internacional or Sanse and instead will have their first three fixtures reversed for the final three games of the promotion phase.

The top three finishers in the group are assured of a place in the playoffs as well as the best 4th place finish across the five groups. With just six games, there is little margin for error and Castilla have been handed a very tough draw. As well as a former Segunda division side in Extramandura, Badajoz reached the playoff semi-finals last year - losing to Barcelona B on penalties - and only lost one game on their way to finishing top of their subgroup this season (conceding just nine goals and scoring 32).

Talavera seem to be the only weak link in Castilla’s fixture list, having only narrowly avoided relegation last season. Nonetheless, they seem to have put that behind them and will be a difficult opponent in their own right. One positive Raul will take from this fixture list is that the traditionally stronger sides from Castilla’s group didn’t make the promotion phase. Sanse, despite their form this season, avoided relegation thanks to the pandemic last year while Internacional de Madrid share a similarly dull record outside of this season.

One would be hopefully that Castilla’s opponents from subgroup A will struggle and trim down the competition Raul’s side will face securing a place in the play-offs. One way or another, a mammoth size task awaits the reserves in April.