To make matters worse, Almería, who started the round outside the relegation zone in 17th place, retired from home with already relegated Espanyol, 3-3, and reached 41 points, a more than Valladolid. Present at the stadium, Ronaldo saw all the drama of the team up close.

Encouraged by more than 25,000 supporters, Valladolid went ahead with Larin, who took a risk from outside the box. The situation became increasingly dramatic when, after 15 minutes, Pezzolano had to make a substitution because defender David Torres was injured.

Without being able to get too close to the opposing zone, the way was to take risks from afar. And that’s what Valladolid did the most in the game. In the first half alone, there were four attempts from distance. Who had the better chance of the first leg, however, was Getafe, at the very end. Midfielder Roque Mesa received the ball inside the box and nearly opened the scoring.

One eye on the game and one on the phone

Together with the outcome of the leg’s other scores, the draw was enough to free Pezzolano’s side from relegation, as Almería, first outside the relegation zone, lost their game against Espanyol.

Without the team being able to open the score, it was possible to see several supporters mobile phones in hand following the results of other matches, drying up the direct rivals. The atmosphere of the match became more tense when, in the other match, Almería equalized the game against Espanyol, a result that would relegate Valladolid.

On the pitch, the team couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities created in the attacking sector. Already in his mid-thirties in the second half, striker Cyle Larin wasted two good chances that calmed the nerves of the supporters.

The first, the player kicked with his left leg and the ball passed close to the crossbar, after assisting the Brazilian Kenedy. In the second, the Canadian missed an incredible opportunity inside the box. There was no shortage of support from the stands, with fans supporting all the time.

From then on, fans were torn between the cell phone screen and the pitch. When Espanyol turned the tide, fans and players alike celebrated the result which could secure the permanence of Ronaldo and Pezzolano’s team in Spanish football’s top flight. But when Almería equalized at 43 of the second half, what could be seen in the stands were apologetic fans, as they knew the result would relegate Valladolid.

From then on, the atmosphere is full of tension. And when Gonzalo Plata’s shot, in the 45th minute of the second half, scraped the opposing crossbar, there was the last hope of securing a place in the first division next season.