The playoff finalists, line by line

The only two teams left in the promotion playoff have now booked their places to the final. UD Las Palmas will take on Real Zaragoza in the showdown to decide which club will be playing Liga BBVA football next season. LaLiga.es looks over the Gran Canary side’s key players line by line.

In nets

The Canary Island outfit have a nice mix of experience and youthful agility between the sticks in the shape of Casto Espinosa and Raúl Lizoain. The former joined the side in the summer to replace Mariano Barbosa, who had been a fixture in the Canary Islanders’ goal for a number of seasons. Paco Herrera placed his trust in the new signing, and Casto started 30 Liga Adelante games before being sidelined with injury.

This cleared the path for Lizoain, who has been the first choice keeper during the final stages of the season as well as during the playoffs. Whichever of these two options is chosen, Las Palmas will be well covered in the goalkeeping department for this promotion decider.

Defence

The four-man defence consists of the newbie David Simón, playing his first year in the division, the well-versed pairing of David García and Aythami Artiles, along with the team’s left back and captain, Ángel López.

One of the big surprises has been the impact David Simón has made at right back this season. The Canary Island youth academy player, who featured for Las Palmas Atlético in the Segunda B on 35 occasions last season, has taken full advantage of the opportunity made available to him this year by acting as a stalwart on the right flank. To add to that, he has started 38 games, providing seven assists and scoring twice in his first Liga Adelante campaign.

Middle of the park

Two names have stood out in midfield for Las Palmas during the 2014/15 Liga Adelante season. Joining the already well-known pairing of Javi Castellano and Vicente Gómez during this league campaign have been the surprise packages of Roque Mesa, a former reserve team player, and Jonathan Viera, the illustrious local talent who returned to the club on loan to rediscover his best form.

Mesa and Viera have been key ingredients in the Catalan manager’s plans. Roque has added energy, speed and showmanship in midfield, while Viera’s enormous talent has been clear to see throughout the season. His fierce long-range shooting ability and masterful vision have given the Yellows a boost at critical moments.

Up front

One man has shone particularly brightly in attack for UD Las Palmas this season: Sergio Araujo. The Argentine is undoubtedly the team’s bastion up front in the Liga Adelante. Not much of a fuss was made when he joined the Gran Canaria outfit, however, he has since rediscovered his killer instinct in front of goal as well as his best form. The South American has chipped in with 23 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances for Las Palmas, starting in each one of those games.