Cartagena hold on to top spot after last week's leaders Real Sociedad were beaten 1-0 by Levante on Sunday evening. Igor got the only goal from the penalty spot after Rivas handled in the area at the start of the second half to hand the Basque side their first defeat of the season. Earlier in the day Hércules also failed to take advantage of the poor results by the teams above them, a 1-1 draw with Murcia ending their 100% home record and leaving them outside of the promotion spots. Tiago Gomes put the Alicante based side ahead a couple of minutes before half time, but Natalio took advantage of slack defending to equalise just two minutes in to the second half.
Numancia were one of the big winners of the weekend, a 3-1 victory over Girona taking them back up to within a point of the promotion spots. Del Pino gave the Soria based side the lead, and although Kiko Ratón equalised before the break, strikes from Barkero and Palacios wrapped things up after the break. The other two games on Sunday ended all square, with Arteaga scoring for Córdoba near the end to save a 1-1 draw against Gimnàstic. Rubén Navarro had given the Catalans the lead a few minutes earlier. Elsewhere Albacete and Elche drew 2-2, Samuel and Jandro twice putting the away side in front before Stuani and then Salva equalised. (18.10.09)
Cartagena moved back to first place in the table pending Sunday's games after drawing 1-1 with Celta on Saturday evening. Víctor gave the newly promoted side the lead from the penalty spot, but Abalo levelled the scores shortly after the restart. Rayo Vallecano are up to second despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Cádiz, Rubén Castro and Michel twice putting the hosts ahead but Ogbeche equalising both times. Betis missed an opportunity to return to the promotion spots though after they lost 1-0 to bottom club Castellón, a late Emanà own goal enough to give new coach "Tintin" Márquez a win on his debut.
Recreativo moved back level with Betis after a 2-0 victory over Las Palmas. The visitors missed a first half penalty, but Javi Fuego converted one at the other end on the hour mark and Troest wrapped things up with a quarter of an hour to go. Salamanca are also up with the two Andalusian clubs after beating Huesca 2-1, substitute Hugo Leal getting the winner after Rubiato had cancelled out Azkorra's opening goal. And down in the lower reaches, Villarreal B move out of the bottom four after a 0-1 win at Real Unión, Marco Rubén scoring the winner with seven minutes to go. (17.10.09)