Second division, day 25

Two goals from the second division's top scorer Jesús Parera gave Albacete a 1-2 victory at Elche to take them to the top of the table. They are now two points ahead of Murcia and Levante, both of whom came from behind away from home to draw 1-1 at Almería and Eibar respectively. Curiously the three teams relegated from the first division last year are occupying the fourth, fifth and sixth positions, just below the promotion zone. Zaragoza were beaten 1-3 at home yesterday by Tenerife thanks to a hat-trick in five minutes from Paunovic, and they lose ground on the leaders. Tenerife move to within four points of them in fifth place, level on points with their neighbours Las Palmas, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Sporting.

It was once again a day for draws in the second division (isn't it always), with seven matches ending all square. For once though none of them were goal-less, and in fact only one side, Terrassa, failed to score. They were beaten 0-4 at home by a Córdoba side who have taken thirteen points from their last five games to climb away from the drop zone. The Catalans drop to ninth, a point now behind Poli Ejido and Xerez, both of whom drew 2-2, the former away at Numancia and the latter at home to Leganés.

Bottom club Oviedo decided to sack their manager Vicente Villamil after being held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Compostela, and Miguel Sánchez was named as his replacement. Their Gallician opponents meanwhile are facing extinction after their financial problems worsened, and they too stay in the bottom four. Oviedo are now two points behind Racing Ferrol, whose slide down the table continued after a 3-1 defeat by Getafe. Badajoz also remain in the drop zone after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Salamanca on Saturday. (02.03.03)