**In the 2026 LigaPro Serie A, the two teams finishing bottom of the relegation hexagonal will drop to Serie B for 2027.** The first stage concluded in mid-September, sending the bottom six—Mushuc Runa (38 pts), Deportivo Cuenca (36), Orense (33), Técnico Universitario (32), Delfín (28), and Manta FC (21)—into a 10-match round-robin that begins September 20 and ends December 13. All points and goal difference from the regular season carry over. Manta FC enters as a heavy underdog, trailing the fifth-placed side by 17 points with limited time to recover form or results. Delfín sits just above the projected cut line and faces immediate pressure in early fixtures. The other four clubs hold varying margins of safety, but the format rewards consistency across the double round-robin while punishing poor results or negative goal difference in tight scenarios. Trader consensus reflects Manta’s structural disadvantage and the narrow window for the mid-table sides in the group to secure safety.