Osasuna are back! The Pamplona based side moved three points clear at the top of the second division after a resounding 4-0 victory over Lugo on Sunday evening. Roberto Torres was the hero of the day with a first half hat-trick, the first from the penalty spot after Oier was brought down in the area. One of eight home-grown players in the starting line-up, Torres made it two after getting on the end of Javier Flaño cross to beat José Juan, and with five minutes to go to the break he converted a second penalty after Carlos Hernández was sent off for a foul on Nino. Caballero did hit the bar for the Galicians soon afterwards, but two minutes in to the second half Nino made sure of the three points after picking up an assist from Pucko. Elche were the only team who could have closed the gap on Enrique Martín’s side, but they drop to sixth after a 4-1 defeat at Llagostera. The Catalans started the day in next to bottom spot, but within seven minutes Juanto opened the scoring, beating Javi Jiménez with an angled shot. Imaz got a lucky bounce to make it two soon afterwards, and Giva headed the third from Juanto’s cross with an hour on the clock. Vergos did get one back for the visitors a few minutes later, but with six minutes to go Benja fired a low shot inside the near post to take his team out of the drop zone.
Llagostera’s win left Mallorca once again at the foot of the table, despite a 1-1 draw at Oviedo in this Sunday’s mid-day kick-off. Javi Ros connected with Sissoko’s pass to put the islanders ahead in the seventh minute, but Erice set up Toché to make it all square shortly before half time. Huesca also remain in the bottom four after they were held to a 1-1 draw as well by Valladolid. The Aragón based side have yet to win at home this season, and they found themselves behind when Rodri beat Leo Franco in the sixth minute. Visiting keeper Kepa pulled off a string of saves after that though, but with seven minutes to go Machis finally beat him following a corner to at least save a point. Valladolid join a group of seven teams languishing in mid-table on nine points, including Mirandés who beat Girona 1-0 thanks to an Alex Ortíz header from a corner with ten minutes to go in that match, and Leganés, who beat Albacete 3-2. It was end to end stuff, Jona opening the scoring for the Manchegans from the penalty spot after the referee ruled that Víctor Díaz had handled inside the area in the fifth minute. Víctor himself levelled it with a header from a free kick just a minute in to the second half, and with a quarter of an hour to go Szymanowski converted a second penalty after Borja Lázaro was fouled in the box. Pulido appeared to have saved a point for the visitors when he scrambled in the equalizer in the second minute of injury time, but three minutes later Lluis Sastre fired home the winner to the delirium of the local fans. (04.10.15)
Numancia, Alcorcón and Córdoba all won their respective matches on Saturday evening to join leaders Osasuna on thirteen points pending their game on Sunday. Numancia currently top the table on goal difference however after they beat Ponferradina 1-0 to put an end to a run of four draws in a row. The only goal came from the penalty spot early on, Oscar Díaz converting the kick after Pavón had brought down Luis Valcarce in the area with eight minutes on the clock. Alcorcón won 0-2 against promotion rivals Nàstic, Oscar Plano and then David Rodríguez running through to score the goals in the first quarter of an hour or so in the second half. The result takes the Madrid based side two points above their hosts in the table. And Córdoba continued their climb up the rankings with a 1-0 victory over Bilbao Athletic, Raúl De Tomás getting the winner with a twentieth minute penalty after Yeray fouled Florin in the box.
Alavés stay a point behind Nàstic though after they lost 1-0 at Zaragoza. Ortuño got the only goal shortly before the break after Hinestroza set him up to take the Maños to within a point of their opponents. Almería are still struggling however, and a 2-2 draw at home to Tenerife cost the job of coach Sergi Barjuan, the first to be fired this season. Nano connected with a Vitolo assist to put the Canary Islanders ahead in the twentieth minute, but after the restart Alberto turned a Michel Macedo cross into his own net to level the scores, and Chuli headed a second for the locals from a Quique González centre to turn the scoreline around. However with the game coming to a close Aurtenetxe latched on to a punched clearance from Julián to fire in a shot which deflected into the net off Lolo Reyes, and Sergi was toast. (03.10.15)