Rayo Vallecano and Mallorca were two of the favourites to go up this season, but they came in to their game on Sunday lunchtime languishing in the relegation zone and desperate for points. In the end however the locals ran out 1-0 winners to climb out of the bottom four and leave the Balearic Islanders down at the foot of the table. Toño had to make several saves before the break as the visitors carved out the better chances, but with twenty minutes to go Trashorras put Alex Moreno through for him to score what was to prove the only goal of the game. The win takes Rayo above their neighbours Getafe, who drop to next to bottom spot after a 3-0 defeat at Cádiz later in the evening. Last season there were two divisions between these two sides, but the locals went ahead on the quarter hour mark when Ortuño got on the end of an Alvaro García cross to beat Guaita. Aitor added a second after winning the ball in midfield with ten minutes to go, and Ortuño round things off following an indirect free kick, his fifth goal of the season to date.
Once again though there is little to choose between the teams, with seven of them level on five points in mid-table, including Girona and Almería, who played out a high scoring 3-3 draw. Quique headed the visitors in front from Pozo’s cross on the half hour mark, but by half time strikes from Pere Pons and Sandaza had turned the scoreline around. After the restart Antonio Puertas made it all square again, and Fidel restored the lead for the Andalusians a few minutes later, but with seven minutes to go substitute Longo beat Julián for a third time to save a point for his side. Huesca and Córdoba are also on five points after the Aragón based side beat José Luis Oltra’s team 3-0. Ferreiro opened the scoring after Nagore set him up in the fifth minute, and Samu made it two with a shot which bounced past Kieszek shortly before the interval. With the game coming to an end Alexander González hit the post, and a minute or so later Aguilera headed the third from Camacho’s corner.
Elche are up to third though after they drew 1-1 at UCAM Murcia, the point taking them level with Zaragoza and Valladolid. Both teams won through their midweek cup ties on penalty shoot outs, but the visitors took the lead early on when Fran Pérez headed Pedro’s cross in to his own net under pressure from Nino. Alberto Toril’s team had the better chances after that, but with twenty minutes to go Jona headed the equalizer after Juan Carlos could only push out a shot from Natalio, and the visiting keeper had to make a couple of good saves later on to ensure the draw. Mirandés occupy the last of the play-off spots after they drew 0-0 at Oviedo, the result keeping the visitors a point above their hosts in the table. Toché and substitute Michu came closest to scoring for the Asturians, but they could not find a way past a heavily packed defence. Alcorcón are now level with Oviedo in the rankings after they beat Nàstic 1-0, the Catalans ending the weekend just above the relegation spots having yet to win a game. Keepers Dmitrovic and Sebastian Saja both had work to do, but Fede Vega won it with an angled shot past Saja midway through the second half after his first shot was blocked by a defender. (11.09.16)
Levante are back at the top of the second division after they beat last week’s co-leaders Zaragoza 4-2 on Saturday evening. The Valencia based side took the lead in only the second minute, Jason sweeping the ball in to the net after Irureta blocked a shot from Morales. And although Lanzarote made it all square with a well struck free kick, Roger headed the locals back in front from Pedro López’s centre soon afterwards. Shortly before half time Campaña got on the end of Abraham’s cross to make it three, and with an hour on the clock Roger got the fourth after the referee ruled (incorrectly) that Marcelo Silva had handled in the area. Ten minutes later Lanzarote got his second of the night with a wide free kick which crept past Remiro and inside the near post, but that was too little too late.
Last weekend’s other joint leaders Valladolid lost 1-0 at Tenerife earlier in the evening, although they remain in third spot pending the rest of the weekend games. The Canary Islanders started the weekend in the relegation spots having only picked up one point to date, but a Carlos Ruíz header following a corner on the stroke of half time gave them a much needed win. Up to that point Ibán Salvador in particular had come close to giving the visitors the lead, but in the end visiting keeper Becerra had to make a string of saves to prevent the locals from going further ahead.
Lugo kicked off the weekend games with a 1-0 victory over Sevilla Atlético, and they are now just a point behind Zaragoza and Valladolid. Both teams had draw all three of their opening games, but Joselu won it with a hotly disputed penalty after Alex Muñoz fouled him in the area on the hour mark. Reus join Lugo on six points after they drew 1-1 with Numancia, and like the Galicians they are still unbeaten this season. The visitors took the lead somewhat against the run of play at the start of the second half, Medina beating Edgar Badía after the keeper pushed out a Julio Alvarez free kick. However Ricardo Vaz levelled the scores a few minutes later after Munir blocked a cross from Carbia, and the visitors were left with nine men when Regalón and Pablo Valcarce were both sent off. (10.09.16)