CD Estepona faces a tough away game in Lebrija with the margin getting narrower

CD Estepona visits the Estadio Municipal de Lebrija this Sunday (11:30 a.m.) to face Atlético Antoniano in matchday 23 of Group 4 of Segunda RFEF. It's not just another game. At this point in the season, almost none of them are. But this one, in particular, is starting to weigh heavily.

Image: CD Estepona The standings do not allow for complacency. Estepona is 16th with 17 points after 22 games. There are 12 games left to play. Mathematically, it is still possible. Emotionally, it is becoming less and less so. ## A demanding scenario Antoniano is 8th with 31 points. But the relevant factor is not only their position, but their home performance. If the league were played only in Lebrija, the Seville team would be in the lead: 8 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in 11 games, with 22 goals scored and 12 conceded. They have earned 25 of their 31 points at home.

It is, therefore, one of the most demanding grounds in the group, which makes Estepona's challenge even greater. ## Different dynamics, different urgencies Antoniano arrives with an irregular track record (L, W, D, W, L), but its ambition remains intact. It is five points behind Recreativo de Huelva (36), which marks the playoff spot. Last year, they came close to promotion, losing in the semifinals to Real Avilés Industrial after an overall draw (2-2) and a missed penalty in the 90+13th minute that could have changed their history. They are not competing to stay up. They are competing to grow. Estepona, on the other hand, is competing against time.

With Manolo Sánchez at the helm, the team has scored in six of its last eight games. The dynamic is more stable than it was months ago. But the standings demand more than just stability. The latest results (D, D, L, L, D) reflect a certain defensive consistency—three scoreless draws prove it—but also an offensive output that is still insufficient to turn draws into wins. And in the current situation, draws are starting to fall short. ## The math is starting to pile up Salerm Puente Genil is in the playout spot with 28 points. Estepona is eleven points behind. With 12 games left to play, the margin is not impossible. But it does mean they have to start winning three points at a time. In addition, this matchday features a direct duel at the bottom of the table: Salerm Puente Genil vs. Xerez Deportivo (Sunday, 5:00 p.m.). A match that could either close or widen the gap.

UD Melilla (25), Xerez Deportivo (25, with one game in hand), Real Jaén (29, with one in hand), and Linares Deportivo (29, with one in hand) complete a still unstable lower-middle zone. But time does not stand still. Scoring in Lebrija, in another context, would be a good result. In the current one, it may not be enough. ## More than three points Estepona does not need heroics. It needs efficiency. It needs to turn competitiveness into results. It needs to transform the feeling of improvement into actual points. Lebrija is not the friendliest place to start a comeback. But seasons are not turned around by choosing the perfect moment.

There is urgency. But there is also room for maneuver. And when both factors coexist, the game ceases to be just another matchday. It becomes an opportunity. In addition, the trip to Lebrija will have a symbolic debut: the club officially unveiled the first team's new screen-printed bus this week. An image of identity and institutional growth that accompanies the sporting moment. It will not win games on its own. But soccer also thrives on signals. Perhaps there is no better way to start a new journey than by returning with three points. On Sunday, Estepona is not only playing against a strong opponent at their stadium. They are playing against the calendar. And the calendar does not grant extensions.