Second division, day 8

Xerez moved up level with leaders Levante after a 1-3 victory at Córdoba. Bernd Schuster's squad walked out of training midweek as a protest about non-payment of their back salary, but they put that behind them in this match. Calle gave them the lead midway through the first half, and Zárate put them two up on the half hour mark before Ramón pulled one back from Platero's cross. Zárate hit the bar in the second half though before Pineda made sure near the end.

Albacete move ahead of Las Palmas into third spot after beating the Canary Islanders 2-1. Oscar Montiel gave the home side the lead in the second minute, but a mistake by keeper Roa in the second half let in Reggi for the equaliser. Iván Diaz headed the winner though a quarter of an hour from the end.

Murcia scraped a 2-1 win over Numancia in an incident packed match to rise back up to fourth. The home side were awarded two penalties, and after Ismael blasted the first over the bar on the stroke of half time, keeper Reinke took the second and scored. Octavio levelled the scores for the Soria based side, but a thirty yard shot from Isach at the end won it for David Vidal's team.

Terrassa were very close to an away win against Racing Ferrol, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Radzic scored for the Gallicians from an injury time free kick. Keko had given the Catalans the lead shortly before the break, and visiting keeper Morales saved a Cuéllar penalty in the second half. Ferrol were left with ten men after Méndez was sent off immediately afterwards, and Terrassa's Pier was also given a red card in the last minute for protesting from the substitutes' bench.

Zaragoza recorded their second win in a row, beating Getafe 1-2 to consolidate their recovery. All three goals came in the last quarter of an hour of play, with Luis López putting the home side ahead with a shot from outside of the area. Vellisca made it all square a couple of minutes later though, and Juanele headed the winner two minutes from the end.

An exciting 3-3 draw between Tenerife and Badajoz, with both teams ending the day in midtable level on eleven points. The visitors lead with a Leandro goal at the break and went further ahead in the second half through Rodri, but Martí and Corona made it all square with two goals in eight minutes. Leandro missed a penalty, but Badajoz were awarded another five minutes later which Nene scored from on the follow up after Valerio saved. Tenerife saved a point in the last minute, also from a penalty which Iván Ania converted.

Compostela climbed out of the relegation spots with their first win of the season, a 1-0 victory over Eibar. The only goal came in the first half when Maikel headed in a cross from Aguado. The result comes at a good time, with the owners in talks to sell the club in the near future.

The Asturian clubs Oviedo and Sporting are still stuck at the bottom of the table after both drew their games. Oviedo were in front for much of the game against Almería after Oli headed the opener from an Idiakez free kick in the fourth minute. However Juanlu equalised midway through the second half to keep the South East coast team two points ahead of their opponents.

Sporting Gijon recorded their third 0-0 draw of the season, this time a dull game at Salamanca. Both clubs changed their managers in recent weeks, but neither Jorge D'Alessandro nor Antonio Maceda have made much difference as yet. The game was marred by crowd trouble, with Sporting fans rioting in the streets after the game. (27.10.02)

Leaders Levante were held to a 2-2 draw by neighbours Elche, but still remain top of the second division table. Jofre put them in front in the first half, and although Raúl Ivars equalised with twenty minutes to go, Ettien restored the lead a couple of minutes later. Elche came back though with a late strike from Velasco to take a point.

Poli Ejido said they wanted to spend at last one night as a first division club, and they effectively did so after defeating Leganés 1-0 to move up to third place pending Sunday's games. Luis Gil scored the only goal four minutes after the half time interval, and both sides ended with ten men after Urbano and then Emery were sent off. (26.10.02)