Levante have opened up a massive ten point gap at the top of the table after a 0-1 victory against second placed Reus on Sunday evening, and the Valencia based side are already looking odds-on favourites for an immediate return to the top flight. The Catalans had the better chances in the first half, but Raúl Fernández and his defence stood fast, and with an hour gone Roger intercepted a bad pass by Atienza to score what was to prove the only goal. Only seven points separate second from next to bottom spot however, Oviedo currently occupying the second of the direct promotion spots despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Lugo. Seoane put the Galicians in front in the twelfth minute with a shot which deflected in off Héctor Verdés, but Verdés made up for it later on, latching on to a loose ball following a corner to equalize with two minutes to go. Lugo stay two points behind their hosts in sixth spot, level with five other teams including Córdoba, who lost 3-1 at regional neighbours Almería. The locals started the day in next to bottom spot, but they scored three times in the first forty minutes or so, Fidel picking up an Antonio Puerta pass to open the scoring on the quarter hour mark. Quique added a second soon afterwards and Fran Vélez headed in a corner for the third, and although Trujillo put through his own net before the break, the home side held on for a much needed win.
Getafe also join the group on 18 points after they beat South Madrid neighbours Alcorcón 1-0. Cala headed the only goal from Faurlín’s cross midway through the second half to extend the unbeaten record under new coach Pepe Bordalás to six games. Alcorcón drop to next to bottom spot, level with Numancia, who could only draw 2-2 at home to Elche. The Soria based side raced into a two goal lead with only ten minutes on the clock, Pablo Valcarce scoring both from assists by Marc Mateu and Julio Alvarez. However the visitors levelled it with strikes by Nino and José Angel soon after the restart, and Julio Alvarez missed a chance to win it for the locals when he fired a penalty kick straight at Juan Carlos after a foul by Pelegrín on Pablo Valcarce. Meanwhile bottom club Nàstic finally got their first victory of the season, a 0-1 win at Mirandés taking them to within three points of Alcorcón and Numancia. Juan Muñiz latched on to a Ferrán pass to score the only goal some ten minutes after the break, leaving their hosts just a point above the bottom four after a fourth defeat in a row. (06.11.16)
Five games on Saturday, second placed Sevilla Atlético missing out on a chance to close the gap on leaders Levante after they lost 2-0 at Valladolid. The youngsters had won their last four matches, but as the rain fell early on in the second half they found themselves behind, Juan Villar beating Caro at the second attempt after the keeper blocked his first shot. And with a quarter of an hour to go Joan Jordán fired home the second to take Paco Herrera’s team to within two points of their opponents in the table. Girona are level with Valladolid on 18 points after they drew 1-1 at home to Tenerife. Amath gave the Canary Islanders the lead in the first minute after good work by Suso, but Ramalho headed the equalizer from a Granell free kick just ten minutes later. Granell and Alex García both hit the bar either side of half time, but in the end a draw was a fair result. Huesca drop out of the top six though after they lost 1-0 at Cádiz, the result leaving them below Girona, Valladolid and Córdoba on goal difference. Local keeper Cifuentes saved an early Alexander González penalty after Aridane handled in the area, and Ortuño headed in a Luis Ruíz cross after the restart to give the Andalusians their second victory in a row.
Zaragoza ended the day a point below Huesca after they drew 2-2 at Mallorca in the last match of the evening. Juan Muñoz opened the scoring for the Maños shortly before the break with a shot from inside his own half which caught Santamaría off his line. However Culio levelled the scores with an angled shot on the hour mark, and although José Enrique put the visitors back in front soon afterwards with a shot which deflected in off Juan Domínguez, Lekic headed in Moutinho’s free kick to save a point for the locals. Rayo Vallecano are still floundering in mid-table though, and they sacked coach José Ramón Sandoval after a last minute 0-1 defeat to UCAM Murcia. Juanma had a couple of chances for the locals before the break, and Manucho hit the post after the restart, but the game appeared to be heading for a goal-less draw until Imaz beat Gazzaniga in the third minute of injury time. It was UCAM’s first win in seven games, and they climb out of the relegation spots to move up level with their hosts in the table. (05.11.16)