Deportivo returned to second place after a 3-1 victory over Mallorca on Sunday lunchtime. Fernando Vázquez's side had been displaced by neighbours Lugo on Saturday evening, but they took the lead somewhat against the run of play midway through the first half when Luisinho got on the end of Arizmendi's cross to beat Miño. Some three minutes later the visitors were left with ten men when Geromel was sent off for a second bookable offence, and soon afterwards Luis Fernández made it two after Marchena headed on a corner. Víctor Casadesús headed one back though from Riverola's free kick just a couple of minutes after the restart, and Alfaro got the ball in the net a few minutes later only for the strike to be ruled out for offside. But five minutes after that Marchena forced another header over the line from a second corner, and the locals held on to move to within a point of leaders Recreativo.
Córdoba are up to fourth after they beat Hércules 4-2 later in the evening. Mexico's Uli Dávila was the hero of the day after scoring three of the goals, the first with a header from Pacheco's free kick in the eleventh minute. Xisco beat Aulestia to make it two some ten minutes later, and Pacheco, Xisco and López Silva could all have added to the lead before the break. The visitors got one back though just a minute in to the second half when Fran Cruz deflected the ball in to his own net after Yuste's shot came back off the bar, but with just under an hour gone Dávila restored the two goal cushion with a carbon copy of his first goal. Portillo shortened the gap again from the penalty spot after Abel handled in the area five minutes later, and Saizar had to save from Japan's Sugi a few minutes later, but with the game in the final minute Dávila completed his hat-trick to wrap things up.
It was a high scoring weekend in the second division though, with 39 goals in the eleven games. Eibar got six of those, beating bottom club Real Madrid Castilla 6-0 on Sunday afternoon to move up in to the play-off spots. With twenty minutes gone Casado turned the ball in to his own net after Eizmendi played back a Raúl Navas cross, and Gilvan Gomes added two more early in the second half, the second from the penalty spot after Cabrera obstructed Eizmendi in the area. By then Castilla were playing with ten men after Raúl De Tomás was sent off for a second yellow card, and the Basque side took advantage to score three more in the last fifteen minutes through Arruabarrena, Jota and Urko Vera. No goals at all however in the match between Numancia and Tenerife, a result which at least extended their respective unbeaten runs to seven and five games. The locals had the better chances, visiting keeper Roberto having to make saves from Natalio, Bedoya and Julio Alvarez at various point during the game. (17.11.13)
PS. Castilla's heavy defeat signalled the end for Alberto Toril, who became the first manager in the second division to be sacked this season a couple of days after the match ended. C team coach Manolo Díaz will take over. (19.11.13)
Leaders Recreativo were held to a 3-3 draw at Alavés on Saturday evening, although they will be pleased to have saved a point in the end after finding themselves two goals down with only ten minutes left to play. Linares gave the Andalusians the lead in only the sixth minute, but Ion Vélez scored twice later on in the first half to turn the scoreline around, the first from a Manu García assist and the second on the stroke of half time following a cross from Oscar Rubio. Four minutes after the break Viguera appeared to have wrapped things up when he converted a penalty after Morcillo handled Guzmán's cross inside the area. But with ten minutes or so to go Alvaro Antón picked up a cross from Calvente to get one back, and six minutes later Rubio turned another centre from Antón past his own keeper to make it all square in the end.
Lugo are back up to second pending Depor's game on Sunday after a 0-2 victory at Ponferradina. Both goals came in the second half, Pablo Sánchez heading in an Iván Pérez cross with just over an hour gone, and Ernesto making sure of the three points with a free kick which took a deflection off a defender. The Galicians stay two points clear of Las Palmas, who are up to fourth after a 3-1 victory over Mirandés. Veteran midfielder Valerón headed the opener from Tana's cross in the sixth minute, and although the Canary Islanders were pushed back after that, Valerón got his second of the evening after connecting with a cross from Nauzet a quarter of an hour in to the second half. Igor Martínez combined with Mújika to get one back a few minutes later, but with seven minutes to go Valerón put Christantus through for him to wrap things up.
Murcia and Sporting Gijón are now two points below Las Palmas after they cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Both goals came early on, Molinero combining with Tete and Eddy to put the locals in front in the twelfth minute. Just five minutes later though Lekic took advantage of a hesitant defence following a throw-in to equalize, and visiting keeper Cuéllar made a string of saves after that, in particular from Kike García, to ensure a point for the Asturians. Jaén are just a point behind both of them though after they beat Zaragoza 3-0 to make it thirteen points from their last six games. Oscar Quesada headed in a Fran Machado cross and a Jozabed free kick to give the Andalusians a two goal lead at the break, and Víctor Curto made it three before Barkero got himself sent off near the end. The defeat leaves the Maños just a point above the drop zone, and coach Paco Herrera is running out of time to turn things around.
Girona stay two points below the top six after they were beaten 2-1 by regional neighbours Barcelona B. The youngsters had dropped down into the relegation spots after losing seven of their last eight matches, and they went behind again when Jandro picked up an assist from Eloi to beat Masip. Five minutes later though Espinosa connected with Dongou's pass to level the scores, and Edu Bedía won it with a long shot some twenty minutes in to the second half. Their local rivals Sabadell remain in the bottom four however after they were beaten 1-2 by Alcorcón. The Madrid based side started the game level on points with their hosts after six games without scoring a single goal, but they went in front when Héctor Verdés headed in a corner shortly before the break. Toni Lao headed the equalizer from a Collantes cross after the restart, but Babín headed in another corner near the end, and Dani Giménez made sure of the three points by saving an injury time Gato penalty after Camille brought down Juanjo in the area. (16.11.13)