League III Season 2026 — Group B Round 13 Recap

Round 13 of League III Group B brought plenty of drama, including several draws between closely matched teams and some important victories that could have major consequences in the race for promotion and cup qualification.

With 50 rounds in the season, we are still only 13 rounds in, leaving 37 rounds to play. But the competition is already beginning to separate into different battles. Remember, 1st place earns automatic promotion to League II, 2nd–9th qualify for the promotion playoffs, 10th earns a Friendly Cup place, and 11th–12th qualify for the King's Cup. There is no relegation from League III.

Celta Vigo win a five-goal thriller

The round got off to an entertaining start at Balaídos Stadium, where RC Celta de Vigo defeated FC Dinamo București 4–2.

Celta entered the match ranked 4th, while Dinamo were 9th, making this an important clash between two teams in the promotion-playoff picture.

Celta's four-goal performance sends a strong message to the teams around them. A victory over another top-nine side is particularly valuable because it creates separation while simultaneously denying a direct competitor points.

Dinamo, meanwhile, will be disappointed to leave with nothing after scoring twice.

Rayo Vallecano cruise past Hvidovre

At Vallecas Stadium, Rayo Vallecano produced one of the round's most convincing results, defeating Hvidovre IF 2–0.

Rayo entered Round 13 ranked 8th, placing them inside the promotion-playoff positions, while Hvidovre were 14th.

The clean sheet is just as important as the two goals. Rayo collected three points without conceding, strengthening their position in the increasingly important top-nine zone.

For Hvidovre, the defeat leaves them needing to find greater consistency if they hope to climb toward the cup qualification positions.

Villarreal held by AC Horsens

Villarreal CF and AC Horsens played to a 1–1 draw at Estadio de la Cerámica.

Villarreal began the match ranked 17th, while Horsens were 7th.

This was therefore a valuable point for Villarreal against a team sitting comfortably inside the promotion-playoff places.

For Horsens, however, it represents two dropped points. With only the top nine qualifying for the promotion battle, every point against lower-ranked opponents becomes increasingly important.

Benfica and Helsingør share four goals

At Estádio da Luz, S.L. Benfica drew 2–2 with FC Helsingør.

Benfica entered the match ranked 23rd, while Helsingør were 25th.

Neither side was able to turn the contest into a victory, but the four-goal draw provides both clubs with a point in what is currently a battle toward the lower end of the standings.

With no relegation from League III, their focus is instead on climbing high enough to reach one of the cup qualification positions.

BFC Daugavpils shock Gante

One of the more surprising results came at Oleksandr Horoshkov, where BFC Daugavpils defeated KAA Gent 2–1.

Daugavpils entered the game ranked 26th, while Gent were 5th.

That makes this one of the biggest upsets of Round 13.

Gent were sitting in a prime position for the promotion playoffs, but failed to capitalize against the team at the bottom of the rankings. For Daugavpils, meanwhile, this is exactly the sort of result that can provide momentum for a climb up the table.

It may only be three points, but defeating a top-five opponent is a major confidence boost.

Rēzeknes FA/BJSS defeat Royal Charleroi

Rēzeknes FA/BJSS defeated Royal Charleroi S.C. 3–2 in another high-scoring contest.

Rēzeknes entered the match ranked 17th, with Charleroi ranked 19th.

The victory gives Rēzeknes an important three points in the middle/lower-table battle. A narrow five-goal victory also makes this one of the more entertaining matches of the round.

Charleroi will be frustrated after scoring twice but still leaving empty-handed.

SK Super Nova edge Royal Antwerp

At Janis Skredelis Stadium, SK Super Nova defeated Royal Antwerp FC 3–2.

Super Nova entered the match ranked 18th, while Antwerp were 24th.

This was another important result for a team attempting to climb out of the lower portion of Group B.

Super Nova's three goals were enough to secure the win despite Antwerp finding the net twice. Antwerp, meanwhile, continue to have work to do if they want to challenge for one of the coveted cup places.

Nice and Monaco play out a draw

The French clash between AFC Unirea Slobozia and Monaco FC ended 2–2 at May 1 Stadium.

Unirea entered the game ranked 21st, while Monaco were 6th.

For Unirea, taking two points off a top-six opponent is a valuable result. Monaco, however, will see this as a missed opportunity.

With Monaco occupying a promotion-playoff position, these are exactly the matches where they need to maximize their points haul if they want to stay among the teams battling for promotion to League II.

Gloria Buzău defeat Águilas Doradas

At Buzău Municipal Stadium, FC Gloria Buzău defeated Águilas Doradas 3–2.

Gloria came into the match ranked 20th, while Águilas were 22nd.

The three points allow Gloria to make progress in the lower half of the table, while Águilas miss an opportunity to gain ground themselves.

Another five-goal thriller demonstrates just how competitive some of these lower-table encounters have become.

Violette Athletic Club win big against Deportes Concepción

One of the most significant results came at Stade Sylvio Cator, where Violette Athletic Club defeated Deportes Concepción 4–1.

Violette entered the match ranked 3rd, while Concepción were 11th.

This was an excellent result for the Haitian side. Not only did Violette score four goals, but they dispatched a team sitting just outside the promotion-playoff positions.

For Violette, this is precisely the sort of performance expected from a team chasing direct promotion.

Concepción, meanwhile, have slipped further away from the top-nine battle and will need to respond in the next few rounds.

Canadian and Internacional Bogotá battle to a draw

At Estadio de Norte, Canadian (URU) and Internacional de Bogotá drew 2–2.

Canadian entered the match ranked 16th, while Internacional were 10th.

That makes the result particularly interesting because Internacional are sitting directly in the Friendly Cup qualification position.

A victory would have strengthened their hold on 10th, but instead they had to settle for a point. Canadian will be happier with the result after taking points from a side positioned above them.

Once Caldas defeat Independiente Medellín

The final Colombian clash saw Once Caldas defeat Independiente Medellín 3–2 at Estadio Palogrande.

Once Caldas entered the match ranked 2nd, while Independiente Medellín were 12th.

This is a huge result for Once Caldas in the promotion race.

A second-place team defeating a 12th-place opponent may not initially sound surprising, but Medellín were close enough to the playoff/cup battle to make this a meaningful fixture.

Once Caldas maintain their position among the leading contenders and continue their push for that coveted automatic promotion spot.

Cúcuta Deportivo and Africa Sports draw

The final match of Round 13 ended with Cúcuta Deportivo and Africa Sports FC drawing 2–2 at Estadio General Santander.

Cúcuta entered the game ranked 15th, while Africa Sports were 13th.

The result leaves both teams with a single point from a match they would have liked to win.

For now, both remain outside the playoff places, but with 37 rounds still remaining, there is plenty of time to climb.

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Round 13 Results

Match	Result	Round 13 Story
RC Celta de Vigo vs FC Dinamo București	4–2	Celta strengthen their top-four position
Rayo Vallecano vs Hvidovre IF	2–0	Rayo collect a clean-sheet victory
Villarreal CF vs AC Horsens	1–1	Villarreal take a point from 7th
S.L. Benfica vs FC Helsingør	2–2	Bottom-half battle ends level
BFC Daugavpils vs KAA Gent	2–1	Major upset
Rēzeknes FA/BJSS vs Royal Charleroi S.C.	3–2	Rēzeknes win five-goal thriller
SK Super Nova vs Royal Antwerp FC	3–2	Super Nova climb with valuable victory
AFC Unirea Slobozia vs Monaco FC	2–2	Monaco drop points against lower-ranked side
FC Gloria Buzău vs Águilas Doradas	3–2	Gloria take three points
Violette Athletic Club vs Deportes Concepción	4–1	Violette dominate
Canadian (URU) vs Internacional de Bogotá	2–2	Internacional fail to strengthen 10th
Once Caldas vs Independiente Medellín	3–2	Once Caldas keep promotion push alive
Cúcuta Deportivo vs Africa Sports FC	2–2	Evenly matched sides share points

🏆 The Promotion Race

The results involving the teams currently ranked near the top are particularly important.

Once Caldas, entering the round in 2nd, took care of business with a 3–2 victory. Violette Athletic Club, ranked 3rd, went one better with a commanding 4–1 win. Celta Vigo, in 4th, also secured three points, while Rayo Vallecano reinforced their position inside the top nine.

Meanwhile, KAA Gent's defeat to last-ranked BFC Daugavpils and Monaco's draw against Unirea Slobozia represent significant opportunities missed by two teams in the promotion-playoff positions.

That could make the battle for places 2–9 extremely tight.

📈 Biggest winners

Violette Athletic Club — A 4–1 victory over 11th-ranked Deportes Concepción keeps the 3rd-place side firmly in the promotion conversation.

RC Celta de Vigo — A four-goal performance against 9th-ranked Dinamo București is exactly what a top-four team needs.

Rayo Vallecano — A clean 2–0 victory helps them consolidate their playoff position.

BFC Daugavpils — The bottom-ranked team produced perhaps the round's biggest shock by beating KAA Gent.

📉 Biggest losers

KAA Gent — Losing to the team ranked 26th is a major setback for a club sitting in the promotion-playoff places.

Monaco FC — Dropping two points against 21st-ranked Unirea Slobozia could prove costly.

Deportes Concepción — A 4–1 defeat to 3rd-ranked Violette leaves them with ground to make up.

⭐ Match of the Round: Violette Athletic Club 4–1 Deportes Concepción

There were several five-goal thrillers, but Violette's 4–1 victory stands out because of the implications at the top of the table.

The 3rd-ranked team showed why it is considered a serious promotion contender, scoring four times against a team ranked just outside the playoff places.

Meanwhile, BFC Daugavpils 2–1 KAA Gent deserves recognition as the Upset of the Round.

Looking Ahead

After 13 rounds, Group B is already demonstrating the unpredictability that makes a 50-round season so interesting.

The top teams cannot afford to become complacent. A defeat or draw against a lower-ranked opponent can quickly erase the advantage built up over several victories.

And with 37 rounds still to come, the current standings are far from final.

The most important question remains:

Who can maintain their place in the top nine long enough to reach the promotion playoffs—and who can ultimately challenge for the single automatic promotion spot?

Round 13 provided plenty of clues, but there is still a very long road ahead in League III Season 2026.