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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 41

A thrilling penultimate weekend in the second division, with many of the issues settled as ten of the eleven matches kicked off at the same time. As chance would have it, who will go up directly with Elche will boil down to one match next weekend, with Villarreal due to meet Almería in the Madrigal stadium after both won their respective matches on Sunday. Villarreal themselves despatched Barcelona B 0-3 in their Mini Estadi to stay in second place, with Jonathan Pereira getting on the end of Musacchio's cross to put them ahead on the stroke of half time. Bruno headed a second from Perbet's centre early on in the second half, and Perbet himself got the third soon afterwards to send the 10,000 or so travelling fans back home happy.

Villarreal remain level on points with Almería after Xavi Gracia's team beat fourth placed Girona 2-1. The Catalans still had an outside chance of making it to the direct promotion spots, but with only two minutes on the clock they found themselves behind when Charles picked up Christian's cross to fire a shot past Isaac Becerra. Acuña headed the equaliser though from Sanchón's cross midway through the first half, and the Paraguayan striker felt himself unlucky not to be given a penalty after the break when he was brought down in the area by Trujillo and had to be substituted as a result. However with two minutes to go Charles headed Gunino's centre past Isaac to keep his team on track for promotion, albeit that, with a losing head-to-head record, they have to win in Villarreal next weekend to go up.

Girona's hopes of automatic promotion disappeared with the defeat, but they are sure of a play-off spot together with whoever loses the above match. The other two play-off places are between three sides, with Alcorcón and Las Palmas slightly better placed than Ponferradina, who are a point behind. Alcorcón wasted a chance to ensure their spot after a 4-0 defeat at neighbours Real Madrid Castilla, Casemiro and Borja putting the youngster two up at the break. Morata added a third just a minute after the restart, and Jesé completed the scoring midway through the second half to take his side above eternal rivals Barcelona B. Las Palmas return to the top six after beating Numancia 2-1, Vitolo converting an early penalty after Antonio Tomás handled in the area. Tato added a second before the break, and although Natalio got one back with just under an hour gone, the Canary Islanders held on for an important win.

Ponferradina however drop out of the top six after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Racing Santander. Gullón put the Cantabrians in front following a corner in the 13th minute, and Jairo added a second for the visitors just five minutes in to the second half. Mayordomo got one back though with a clever back-heel a quarter of an hour from the end, and Yuri made it all square with three minutes to go to keep his team in with a chance of promotion just a year after going up from the regional second division. Meanwhile Sporting Gijón and Recreativo have no chance of making it in to the play-off spots after they cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw. It was a disappointing game between two sides who had nothing much to play for, and both will be hoping for better things next season.

The three remaining relegation spots were decided after Mirandés won 1-2 at Córdoba to open up a five point gap over the bottom four, Racing, Huesca and Murcia the teams who will be joining bottom club Xerez in the regional second division B. Goals either side of half time by Mújika and Alain put Carlos Pouso's team two up, and Xisco's strike came too late to change the result. That said there is still a glimmer of hope for one of the three sides as Guadalajara are very likely to be relegated for financial irregularities committed during their recent capital increase, and all will be giving it their best shot next weekend just in case. Guadalajara themselves had moved clear of the drop zone a couple of weeks ago, although they lost 0-1 to Lugo on Sunday, Tonetto getting the only goal for the Galicians with five minutes to go.

Huesca are best placed to save themselves if Guadalajara do go down, a 3-1 victory over Xerez taking them back up to nineteenth spot. Visiting defender David Prieto headed in a corner with ten minutes to go to the break to cancel out an earlier Bouzón own goal, but strikes by Diogo and Pacheco either side of half time gave Jorge D'Alessandro's a much needed win. Murcia are just behind Huesca on the head-to.head record though after they won 0-2 at Hércules, Saúl giving them the lead with a low shot past Falcón in the twentieth minute, and Matilla wrapping things up with a second goal on a quick breakaway with just under an hour gone. (02.06.13)

With all games with something at stake scheduled to kick off at the same time on Sunday, only the match between Sabadell and already crowned champions Elche took place on Saturday evening. True to tradition the home side applauded their opponents on to the pitch, but after that they had the better chances, Lanzarote going close either side of half time and Dávila and Collantes hitting the woodwork later on. Javi Flores and Aarón responded for the visitors, but in the end both teams settled for a 0-0 draw. (01.06.13)