Second division B - play-offs, day 2

Barcelona B moved to the top of group B with a 3-2 victory over Mérida. The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute through Edu after a defensive mix up between keeper Víctor Valdés and Oleguer. However Motta levelled the scores soon afterwards, and David Sánchez put the Catalans ahead before the break. Babangida set up Trashorras for a third goal, and only first class saves from Juanma stopped Trashorras and Motta from extending the lead. However Edu pulled a late goal back heading home a free kick to set up an exciting finish.

Terrassa moved to the top of group A with a 0-1 win at Hércules. The only goal of the game came ten minutes in to the second half from Keko, who headed home a free kick from Juan Carlos. Earlier in the game Hércules keeper Toño had saved a penalty from Monty, and Terrassa keeper Castillo also made a good save from Santos near the end. Both teams ended with ten men after Navas for the visitors and then Orlando for the locals were sent off in the second half. (02.06.02)

Six of the eight matches on day two were played on Saturday night as the country was hit by World Cup fever. Real Madrid B bounced back from their defeat last week at the hands of Almería to beat Pontevedra 5-0 and fight their way back into the promotion race. Although the visitors' Manu hit the bar twice with free kicks in the opening minutes, Luis García scored twice and Portillo added a third in the last quarter of an hour of the first half. Valdo got another just after the break, and Portillo made it five from the penalty spot in the last minute after Corrales was brought down. Pontevedra's Alaéz was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before the penalty incident.

Almería stay top of group D though after an undeserved 0-2 victory over Espanyol B. Armindo gave the visitors the lead in the third minute with a shot from the right of the area, but they were on the back foot after Flores got himself sent off for a second yellow card late in the first half. Catalá hit the foot of the post for the home side after the interval, but with everyone pushing forward in time added on, Raúl made it two on a breakaway. Almería head the table on six points, and Espanyol B are virtually out of it with two defeats in a row.

Hospitalet moved to the top of group C on goal difference after a 3-0 win over Motril. The team from the outskirts of Barcelona have not lost on their artificial pitch all season, and they took the lead through Bartres with less than ten minutes on the clock. The Andalucians were never in the game, and Javi García scored two more for the home side after the break, the first with a header after a clever chip over the keeper and the second with a volley after an earlier shot was blocked.

Hospitalet are level on four points with Getafe, who beat Cultural Leonesa 1-2 thanks to a late goal from Pulido. The Madrid based side took the lead somewhat fortunately midway through the first half when Casquero put through his own net, but after intensive pressure from the locals they gave away a penalty which Suárez converted on the stroke of half time. The León team kept up the attack after the break and hit the woodwork twice through Irazusta and Nacho before Getafe got the winner on a rare breakaway.

The Basque country's lone challenger Barakaldo kept alive their hopes with a 1-0 victory over their North African rivals Ceuta. The only goal of their group A match came from an individualist effort from Sendoa on the stroke of half time, and a poor Ceuta had no response. Barakaldo move level with Terrassa on three points pending their game on Sunday, and although it is early days yet, Ceuta look like missing out once again on promotion.

Cash strapped Compostela desperately need to be promoted back to the second division A if they are to have any hope of survival, and they took a step towards their goal with a 2-0 win over Valencia B. Jesús gave them the lead on the half hour mark and Maikel added a second just after the break. However they were reduced to ten men when Biscay picked up a second booking soon afterwards, and had to hold on for almost all the second half for their victory. (01.06.02)