All is at stake for the second leg in Alcalá. The first leg of the promotion playoff semi-final to the Second Division, played at Ponferrada's home ground, ended in a goalless draw, a result that leaves both teams with chances. Fernando Torres's side played the entire second half one man down after Iker Luque was sent off in the 44th minute. After that, the Red-and-white team showed character and strength, competing at both ends of the pitch in a match marked by a hard intensity in every action and several interruptions. An exciting do-or-die encounter awaits at the Alcalá fortress next Saturday (6:30 PM CET).

Fernando Torres shared his thoughts on the pitch at El Toralín after the match: “I think this game showed the character of this team. It was difficult for us to get into the game because of the way they played it, a very stop-start game, trying to create a scuffle every time there was a set piece. We knew that was one of their weapons, and they executed it brilliantly. I think we managed to break out of that situation around the 20th minute and control the game a bit more in a very difficult context. After the sending-off, the game changed.”

 Iker Luque's departure from the game presented Torres with a different scenario than what he had seen so far: “It was a test of endurance where the team was tremendous in terms of effort, understanding well where we had to let the opponent attack with an advantage. We even had some chances to win the game. We need to build on the work they've done.”

“I’m very proud of all the players, those on the field, those on the sidelines experiencing it all, those who came despite not being called up, and this goes on… It’s a match to be proud of for what happened during the 90 minutes. We’re not happy because we came here to win and we didn’t get a draw, but we have the feeling that if we could play tomorrow, everyone in the team would say, ‘Let’s go for it,’ because that’s the desire of a team that wants more,” Torres adds with satisfaction.

Looking ahead to next Saturday's crucial second leg in Alcalá, where they have six consecutive victories, Torres outlines the path forward in the following aspects: “We need to try and make the game unfold the way we want, using our strengths, on our home turf, with our fans, and by getting to know them a little better. They are a fantastic team, with tremendous individual talent and a great coach who made their game very tight, which we struggled to understand. It's an open tie, and we feel confident playing at home with our fans, where we've been doing very well.”

- Match stats:

SD Ponferradina: Andrés Prieto, Koke Iglesias, Undabarrena, Germán Novoa, Andoni López, Esquerdo (Frimpong, 78’ [Cortés, 85’]), San Emeterio (Erik Morán, 70’), C. Calderón (Keita, 70’), Borja Valle, Slavy, Borja Vázquez (Xemi Fernández, 78’).

Atlético Madrileño: Esquivel, Boñar, D. Martínez, Puric, J. Díaz, Javi Serrano (Morcillo, 79’), Bellotti (Barboza, 90’+2’), Rayane (Castillo, 68’), Iker Luque, Arnau Ortiz (Corral, 68’), Llorente (Cubo, 90’+2’).

Árbitro: Javier Figueiredo. Expulsó con roja directa al rojiblanco Iker Luque (44’). Amonestó a los locales Borja Vázquez (21’), Borja Valle (28’) y San Emeterio (60’); a los visitantes Arnau Ortiz (18’), Boñar (71’), Castillo (86’), Puric (90’+3’).

Promotion playoff to Segunda División, El Toralín pitch.