As U.D. Lanzarote’s season comes to an end, CD Tenerife and UD Las Palmas still have a huge game ahead of them. Our football correspondent for U.D. Lanzarote, Ian Lane, tells us about what’s ahead for the two biggest football clubs in the Canary Islands.
The two biggest football clubs in the Canary Islands are CD Tenerife and UD Las Palmas from Gran Canaria. Both of these teams have had brilliant seasons in the Segunda Division (Championship 2nd Tier) and have finished the league season in the playoff positions.
As it happens an extra celebration for Canarian Day will take place this Wednesday (1st June) when these teams meet in the semi-final 1st Leg in Tenerife with the second Leg in Las Palmas on Saturday (4th June) both at 8pm.
This is as an intense derby rivalry that would compare to anywhere. There is no love lost between these two sides and these two games will be the most important matches for both clubs in their recent history with a place in the final up for grabs and the chance for a Golden ticket to compete in Spain´s La Liga.
Lanzarote is part of the district of Las Palmas so the vast majority of Conejeros (Lanzaroteans) will be supporting Las Palmas including me. Many Rojillo supporters will never forget how thousands of Las Palmas fans came to support UD Lanzarote when Primera Liga side Sevilla refused to play in Lanzarote because of the artificial turf in the Copa Del Rey match in 2003.
The game was held in Las Palmas with over 3000 Lanzarote fans making the journey by plane or boat then a further 4000 Las Palmas supporters cheered on the Rojillos in an incredible atmosphere but a cross from the late José Antonio Reyes finished off by Brazilian international Julio Baptista in the 13th minute gave the Primera Liga side a 1-0 victory.
Ian Lane has been the Gazette Life football correspondent for years and has written numerous articles on Lanzarote’s seasons. Ian also runs his own shop in Costa Teguise and weekly market stall in Teguise, selling official club shirts and merchandise.
Find out more HERE: http://www.lanzarotefootball.com/
For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote”.
