Ceuta striker Marcos before taking a penalty against Castellón.
Since CD Castellón surged to the top of the table in late February, fortune has rarely been on their side. The team, led by Pablo Hernández, has had to battle against an unusual wave of adversity—one that stretches well beyond their own performance.
Over the last 13 matchdays, the numbers tell a stark story: six red cards and six penalties awarded against them. In only two of those games did they avoid either a sending-off or a spot-kick. The clean sheets that once defined much of their season have become a distant memory.
This string of setbacks has undoubtedly weighed down Castellón’s momentum. Despite still holding a playoff spot—a position they’ve occupied uninterrupted since November—the direct promotion push has slipped away, and their lead over chasing rivals has shrunk.
The troubles began almost immediately after they took the lead. In their first game as league leaders, a trip to Las Palmas saw them concede a penalty and lose Sienra to a second yellow card. A late equalizer from Brignani salvaged a 1-1 draw.
Next came a home loss to Racing Santander (1-3). The match highlighted a disparity in officiating: while a visiting player escaped a red for a heavy challenge, Castellón’s Mellot was dismissed in stoppage time.
In matchday 29, they fell to Real Sociedad B. A potential penalty was overturned after a manual offside review—the semi-automated system was down. With Mellot suspended, a crucial gap opened in the lineup.
Mellot returned in matchday 30 only to be sent off again. Castellón lost to Sporting, though they did score their only penalty of this 13-game stretch—converted by Cala. Notably, they haven’t received a single red card in their favor since taking the top spot.
Matchday 31 saw them drop two points late against Cultural. Youngster Fadel, brought in to cover for Mellot, conceded a soft penalty that turned a 1-0 lead into a 1-1 draw.
In matchday 32, a draw at Albacete came with another red—Gerenabarrena saw a second yellow, leading to a suspension.
The following week brought more controversy: penalties for Las Palmas and Racing, a missed spot-kick for Almería and Eibar, and yet another penalty against Castellón.
Matchday 33 brought a strong win over Almería, but it came with a cost—Tincho was sent off before Pablo Santiago sealed a 2-0 victory.
In matchday 34, a penalty was converted by Granada, though Castellón still won at home.
Matchday 35 saw Castellón reduced to 10 men again, drawing at Mirandés after Mellot’s latest red card.
Matchday 36 brought another penalty alarm. Castellón beat Burgos, but the visitors scored from the spot.
Through all this, Castellón has shown resilience, but the pattern is hard to ignore. Each match seems to demand an extra goal just to level the playing field.
