The 2012 Segunda División play-offs took place in June 2012. The Segunda División promotion phase (known as Promoción de ascenso) was the second phase of 2011–12 Segunda División and was to determine the third team which promoted to 2012–13 La Liga. Teams placed between 3rd and 6th position (excluding reserve teams) took part in the promotion play-offs.

Regulations were similar that previous season: fifth placed faced against the fourth, while the sixth positioned team faced against the third. In case of a tied eliminatory there were extra time, once finished it, this season introduced that there wouldn't be penalty shoot-out and the winner would be the best positioned team. The first leg of the semi-finals was played on 6 June with the best positioned team playing at home the second leg was played on 10 June. The final was also two-legged, with the first leg on 13 June and the second leg on 16 June, with the best positioned team also playing at home the second leg. Real Valladolid and AD Alcorcón played the final phase where Valladolid was winner and promoted to La Liga after two years of absence. Córdoba CF and Hércules CF were eliminated in semifinals.

Road to the play-offs

League table

Valladolid Real Valladolid was the only team to be assured a spot in this phase several matchdays before, doing so on 16 May 2012. They were fighting together with Celta de Vigo for the second place to earn direct promotion, and eventually repeated the play-off appearance from the previous season.

An historical La Liga team, Valladolid made solid regular season (82 points), fighting with Celta for the remaining place for direct promotion. However, after a draw in the penultimate match against AD Alcorcón (which was also fighting for a play-off spot) they didn't depend by himself for direct promotion: Celta played last round against Córdoba CF, both only needed a draw, and drew 0–0 as their opponents were also favoured by that outcome; foreseeing this situation, Valladolid didn't try to opt for the second place and lost the last match 1–3 at home against CD Guadalajara.

Valladolid's last participation in La Liga was in 2009–10. Valladolid spent 40 seasons in the top division: from 1948–64 except 1958–59 and 1961–62, and from 1980–2004 except 1992–93, and lately from 2007–10. It ranked 14th in the all-time La Liga table (Racing de Santander surpassed it after 2011–12 La Liga). They were in the category since 2010–11.

Background at 2011–12 Segunda División: Round234567891011112131415161718192021222324252627282931323334353637383940304142Home/Away A H A H A H A A H H A H A H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H H A HResult W W D L D W D D W W L W D W D D D W W D W W W L W L L W D W W W W W W D D W W W D LPosition 213896564354422344442223343333332222333333

Alcorcón AD Alcorcón qualified to the playoffs in the last matchday (3 June 2012), like Hércules CF and Córdoba, after winning 1–0 away against CD Numancia.

Alcorcón was then a "modest team" that since its foundation in 1971 had spent in the lower leagues until 2010. They are well remembered for its achievement in 2009–10 season, when still in Segunda División B, it made worldwide headlines after defeated neighbours giants Real Madrid in Copa del Rey. Since then, it was popularized the expression "Alcorconazo" meaning this team makes a surprise against a successful rival. In that season they were champions in Segunda División B Group 2, and they played play-offs to promote to Segunda División. They were eliminated by Granada CF for winners phase and they entered to next phases and eliminated Pontevedra CF and Ontinyent CF.

Alcorcón had a regular 2011–12, being placed in the quiet zone almost all season but winning several consecutive matches in the spring. In the 41st round, they made another "Alcorconazo" and drew 1–1 at Valladolid, which meant the opposition did not depend exclusively on itself in the last matchday for direct promotion.

Alcorcón had never been in La Liga. They were in the second division since last season, 2010–11.

Background at 2011–12 Segunda División: Round234567891011112131415161718192021222324252627282931323334353637383940304142Home/Away H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H H A H A H A H A A A H A H A H A H A H H AResult L W D W W L D L W L W D L L W W D L D D D W D W W W L W L W W W W W D W L W L W D WPosition 16911738710811101112141289111011119108888888755555544444

Hércules Hércules qualified to this phase in the last matchday (3 June 2012) like Alcorcón and Córdoba, after a necessary win (2–1) at SD Huesca (UD Almería could qualify instead if Hércules didn't win), and sought to promote immediately after being relegated from La Liga.

The team's early season was a spectacular one, gathering 28 points out of 33 in the first eleven matches, and leading for ten rounds during the 2011 autumn. Since November, however, it started to combine wins and losses, remaining however in the play-off zone until the end of league.

Hércules' last participation in La Liga was in last season (2010–11), having spent 20 seasons in La Liga: period 1935–42 (no football between 1936–39 due to the Spanish Civil War), 1945–46, from 1954–56, 1966–67, from 1974–82, 1984–85, 1996–97 and 2010–11. Hércules was 22nd in the all-time La Liga table, 13 points over long-standing rival and neighbours Elche CF. They were in Segunda División only since this related season.

Background at 2011–12 Segunda División: Round234567891011112131415161718192021222324252627282931323334353637383940304142Home/Away H A H H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H H A H A H A H A H A A H AResult W W L W D W W W W W W L L W L D D L W L W L W L L W W L W L L W W W W D D L L W D WPosition 447242111111111113353556655645644444455565

Córdoba Córdoba qualified to this stage in the last matchday (3 June 2012), as Hércules and Alcorcón, after a 0–0 away draw against Celta de Vigo which was heavily criticised by Real Valladolid.

At time, an historical second division outfit, the Andalusia side's last top level participation was 40 years ago – in which it managed to defeat FC Barcelona and draw against Real Madrid at El Arcángel – and it finished fifth in the main category in 1964–65. It had a short spell in the third level in the 2000s, returning in 2007 after defeating Pontevedra CF and SD Huesca.

Córdoba had a regular 2011–12 season, being in the play-off area for some matches, and fighting last mid with neighbouring Almería for the final sixth-place, eventually succeeding.

Córdoba's last participation in La Liga was in 1971–72. The club spent a further seven seasons in the main category, from 1962–69. It ranked 38th in the all-time La Liga table (being surpassed by Levante UD at the end of 2011–12's top division). They were in Segunda División since 2007–08.

Background at 2011–12 Segunda División: Round234567891011112131415161718192021222324252627282931323334353637383940304142Home/Away H A H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H H A H H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A A H H AResult D L W W W W D D L W L D W W L W D D W L D W L W L W W W D L W L D L W D W W L W W DPosition 10161310644475910746457677677766566466777666656

Promotion play-offs

Semifinals

First leg

HÉRCULES: GK 1 Juan CarlosDF 23 Anaitz ArbillaDF 5 Samuel Llorca DF 20 Pepe MoraDF 16 Paco PeñaMF 6 Alberto Escassi MF 24 Tiago GomesMF 8 MíchelFW 21 Adrián Sardinero FW 12 Gilvan Gomes FW 7 Urko Vera Substitutions:GK 25 Ismael FalcónDF 4 Sergio DíazMF 17 Carlos Calvo MF 19 Diego RivasMF 22 Felipe Sanchón FW 10 ToteFW 9 David Aganzo Manager: Juan Carlos Mandiá

ALCORCÓN: GK 1 Manu Herrera DF 24 NagoreDF 6 Jean-Sylvain BabinDF 16 AgusDF 23 Ángel SánchezMF 10 Sergio MoraMF 8 Rubén SanzMF 20 Fernando Sales MF 11 Francisco MontañésFW 22 Borja Pérez FW 14 Quini Substitutions:GK 13 Raúl MorenoDF 21 Manuel RuedaDF 2 Carlos ExpósitoMF 4 AbrahamFW 18 David Miguélez FW 9 Oriol Riera FW 19 Saúl Berjón Manager: Juan Antonio Anquela

Assistant referees: Íñigo Retegui Lamolla (La Rioja) Enrique Rodríguez Sánchez (Castile-La Mancha) Fourth official: Juan Manuel López Amaya (Andalucía)

CÓRDOBA: GK 1 Alberto GarcíaDF 17 José FernándezDF 4 Gaspar DF 15 Ximo Navarro DF 16 Sebastián Dubarbier MF 14 López GaraiMF 10 Borja GarcíaMF 21 Carlos Caballero MF 19 López SilvaFW 11 Charles FW 7 Pepe DíazSubstitutions:GK 13 Carlos AriasDF 3 Juan Fuentes DF 25 Miguel Ángel TenaMF 29 Fede Vico MF 20 Alberto AguilarFW 24 Airam LópezFW 9 Javier Patiño Manager: Paco Jémez

VALLADOLID: GK 1 Jaime DF 24 Mikel BalenziagaDF 6 Jesús RuedaDF 4 Marc ValienteDF 17 Carlos PeñaMF 16 Mehdi Nafti MF 22 Víctor Pérez MF 7 Nauzet AlemánMF 10 Óscar González MF 21 Sisi FW 9 Javi Guerra Substitutions:GK 13 Dani Hernández DF 5 JuanitoDF 8 Javier BarajaMF 14 Jorge AlonsoMF 3 MarquitosMF 11 Jofre Mateu FW 15 Alberto Bueno Manager: Miroslav Đukić

Assistant referees: Francisco Javier Garcia Sabuco (Navarre) David Maldonado Urbina (Community of Madrid) Fourth official: David Jiménez Moreno (Castile-La Mancha)

Second leg

VALLADOLID: GK 13 Dani HernándezDF 24 Mikel BalenziagaDF 6 Jesús Rueda DF 4 Marc ValienteDF 17 Carlos PeñaMF 16 Mehdi NaftiMF 22 Víctor PérezMF 7 Nauzet Alemán MF 10 Óscar González MF 21 Sisi FW 9 Javi Guerra Substitutions:GK 26 Jon VillanuevaDF 5 JuanitoDF 8 Javier Baraja MF 14 Jorge AlonsoMF 3 MarquitosMF 11 Jofre Mateu FW 15 Alberto Bueno Manager: Miroslav Đukić

CÓRDOBA: GK 1 Alberto García DF 17 José FernándezDF 4 Gaspar DF 15 Ximo NavarroDF 16 Sebastián Dubarbier MF 14 López Garai MF 10 Borja GarcíaMF 21 Carlos Caballero MF 19 López SilvaFW 11 CharlesFW 7 Pepe Díaz Substitutions:GK 13 Carlos AriasDF 3 Juan FuentesDF 25 Miguel Ángel TenaMF 29 Fede Vico MF 20 Alberto AguilarMF 28 Javi Hervás FW 9 Javier Patiño Manager: Paco Jémez

Assistant referees: Ramón García Salas (Catalonia) Jorge Bueno Mateo (Aragon) Fourth official: Luis Miguel Vallejo Aznar (Aragon)

ALCORCÓN: GK 1 Manu Herrera DF 24 NagoreDF 6 Jean-Sylvain Babin DF 16 AgusDF 23 Ángel Sánchez MF 10 Sergio Mora MF 8 Rubén SanzMF 20 Fernando Sales MF 11 Francisco MontañésFW 22 Borja PérezFW 14 Quini Substitutions:GK 13 Raúl MorenoDF 21 Manuel Rueda DF 2 Carlos ExpósitoMF 4 AbrahamFW 18 David MiguélezFW 9 Oriol Riera FW 19 Saúl Berjón Manager: Juan Antonio Anquela

HÉRCULES: GK 1 Juan CarlosDF 23 Anaitz Arbilla DF 5 Samuel LlorcaDF 20 Pepe Mora DF 16 Paco Peña MF 14 Abel Aguilar MF 24 Tiago Gomes MF 8 MíchelFW 21 Adrián Sardinero FW 12 Gilvan Gomes FW 9 David Aganzo Substitutions:GK 25 Ismael FalcónDF 4 Sergio DíazMF 17 Carlos Calvo MF 22 Felipe SanchónMF 6 Alberto EscassiFW 10 Tote FW 7 Urko Vera Manager: Juan Carlos Mandiá (banned)

Assistant referees: Rafael Orellana Benítez (Catalonia) Ángel Nevado Rodríguez (Extremadura) Fourth official: Andrés Manuel Ceballos Silva (Extremadura)

Final

First leg

ALCORCÓN: GK 1 Manu HerreraDF 24 Nagore DF 21 Manuel Rueda DF 16 AgusDF 3 Diego Bermúdez MF 10 Sergio MoraMF 8 Rubén SanzMF 20 Fernando SalesMF 11 Francisco MontañésFW 22 Borja Pérez FW 14 Quini Substitutions:GK 13 Raúl MorenoDF 2 Carlos ExpósitoDF 5 Javi HernándezMF 4 AbrahamFW 18 David Miguélez FW 9 Oriol Riera FW 19 Saúl Berjón Manager: Juan Antonio Anquela

VALLADOLID: GK 13 Dani HernándezDF 24 Mikel Balenziaga DF 6 Jesús RuedaDF 4 Marc ValienteDF 17 Carlos Peña MF 16 Mehdi NaftiMF 22 Víctor PérezMF 7 Nauzet Alemán MF 10 Óscar González MF 21 SisiFW 9 Javi Guerra Substitutions:GK 1 JaimeDF 5 JuanitoDF 8 Javier Baraja MF 3 MarquitosMF 11 Jofre Mateu FW 15 Alberto BuenoFW 25 Manucho Manager: Miroslav Đukić

Assistant referees: David Canales Cerdà (Valencian Community) Sergio Chinchilla Ortega (Valencian Community) Fourth official: Carlos Alberto Carbonell Hernández (Valencian Community)

Second leg