Hernández: "Over 80 points needed for direct promotion this season"

Castellón manager Pablo Hernández predicts over 80 points will be needed for direct promotion to La Liga this season, up from last year's threshold.

Castellón manager Pablo Hernández warned ahead of Sunday's visit to Burgos that this season's promotion race will be tighter than last year. "More points will be needed for direct promotion this year. The top three, based on the average points we're accumulating, would need more than 80 points to go up directly," he said in a press conference.

Hernández praised Burgos as a well-organised opponent that defends aggressively and wants to finish in the upper half of the table. "We'll try to impose our game knowing that if we're at our level we'll have chances," he added.

The manager confirmed the return of striker Ousmane Camara but noted that Castellón have shown they don't depend solely on their forwards' goals, with midfield players capable of scoring.