Teams in the promotion playoffs are spared the drama of penalty shootouts

This Wednesday sees the #PlayOffLaLiga get underway, with Gimnastic, Girona FC, Cordoba CF and At.Osasuna set to fight it out to claim their place in the Liga BBVA.

In the battle for promotion, the highest-placed finishers take an advantage into the playoffs, but why is this the case I hear you ask? According to the Circular No.4 - 2015/16 issued by the RFEF (Spanish Football Federation), in Article Seven of its General Provisions:

 

In competitions involving two-legged ties, the following provisions shall be applicable: 

Point 4.- "In terms of the playoffs for promotion from Segunda Division to Primera, in the event of the teams contesting the ties being level after extra-time, in the cases where this is needed, which are referred to in point 1 of these Provisions, the tie shall not be decided by a penalty shootout, but rather the side which finished the LaLiga season in the highest position shall be declared the winner of the tie." 

In other words, in the event of a draw, the winner of the tie will be the team who finished highest in the league standings at the end of the season, with there being no need for a penalty shootout to determine the winner.