Atlético
Madrid lost their third game of the season, 2-0 away at relegation
candidates Extremadura. The club from the town of Almendralejo had had a
busy week, with ex Atlético hard man Juanito winning a bad tempered
battle to take over as president from Pedro Nieto. For the time being Josu
Ortuondo has kept his job as manager, and his players did him a favour with
this victory against an apathetic Atlético who hardly managed a shot at
goal in all the game. Burgos saved from lone striker Manuel near to half time,
and a minute later they were in front when Santi put through his own net after
Cortés crossed the ball in. Aragonés brought on Fernando Torres
and Luque soon after half time, but Moreno scored a second for the home side
from a free kick later in the half. Atlético stay two points clear of
Xerez at the top, and Extremadura move a little closer to safety with their
win.
Xerez maintained
their push for promotion with a 2-1 victory over Gimnastic Tarragona on
Saturday evening. Pineda gave the home side a two goal lead in the first half,
taking him to the top of the second division Pichichis' table with eleven. Mena
could have added another with a long shot against the crossbar, but
Nástic started to show glimpses of the form that helped them beat Real
Madrid in their midweek cup tie, and new signing Angel Cuéllar pulled
one back on his debut. Mena thought he had restored the two goal lead, but the
referee ruled the goal out for offside, which provoked a hail of objects from
the crowd. Xerez move to within two points of leaders Atlético, and
Nástic stay in next to bottom spot.
Racing Santander
moved up to third, in the promotion spots for the first time this season,
after beating Murcia 1-0 on Sunday lunchtime. Bodipo opened the scoring
early on heading home a cross from Sietes, but not before Peternac had hit the
bar at the other end. The visitors kept up the pressure and Lemmens saved well
from Godino in the second half. In the end though Racing held on for their
sixth home win a row and their ninth league game without defeat under new
manager Quique Setién.
Recreativo are just
behind them on goal average after a good 2-3 away win at Salamanca. They
did fall behind at the beginning to a strike from Makukula, but a goal either
side of half time from Raúl Molina (his ninth and tenth of the season)
put the visitors ahead. Salamanca had a chance to level the scores when they
were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mutiu, but Marinescu hit the post with his
kick. Javi García put the Andalucians further in front a few minutes
later, with Robert pulling one back two minutes later.
Oviedo drop out of
the promotion spots down to fifth after drawing 1-1 with bottom club Poli
Ejido. And they were lucky even to get a point, young substitute Pablo
Díaz getting the equaliser in injury time with a centre-come-cross which
keeper Marcos misjudged. The visitors had taken the lead through Oscar
Arpón twenty minutes earlier, and appeared to be in line for their
second victory in a row before the late goal which gives the Asturian side
their fifth home draw this season.
Burgos also lost
ground on the teams above them after drawing 0-0 at home to Elche on a
freezing night in the North of Spain. The home side had the best chances, with
Carlos Merino shooting over the bar in the first half and Valerio saving well
from Cuyami in the second. Elche got what they wanted though, a point whci
keeps them in the middle of the table. Burgos are still sixth, despite not
having won in their El Plantio stadium since the end of September.
High flying Badajoz
were beaten for the second time in four days after a run of eight matches
without defeat under new manager Carlos Alhinho, including seven league
victories in a row. After losing in the cup midweek to first division
Valladolid, they were beaten 1-0 by Leganés. It took a last
minute goal though by Sivori to defeat them, the late substitute beating Baines
after good work by Iván Pérez (brother of Barcelona's Alfonso)
down the left wing.
Badajoz do stay in the top
half of the table, level with Albacete, who also saw their recent good
run come to an end losing by the same score at Eibar. The only goal came
from Jorge Sánchez, who forced the ball over the line after a corner on
the hour mark. It was the Basque side's first victory in six games, having only
picked up two points out of a possible fifteen before this match.
Racing Ferrol move
back up the table level with Albacete and Badajoz with a much needed victory,
2-1 over struggling Numancia. Ismael gave them the lead in the first
half, but Curro Vacas made it all square soon afterwards. However a scrambled
goal by Fran Nogueira gave the Gallician side victory, leaving Numancia down
within a point of the relegation spots.
The Soria based side are
level on points with Murcia and Jaén, who threw away the lead to
lose 1-2 against local rivals Córdoba. Pepelu gave the home side
the lead from the penalty spot after Lawal handled in the area on the stroke of
half time, but two late goals by Manolo took his team above their rivals and
probably spelt the end for Jaén's manager Francisco.
Levante continued
their recovery under Pepe Balaguer with an exciting 4-3 victory over
Sporting Gijon. With half an hour gone it looked impossible, with Villa
giving the visitors the lead and Lozano adding a second on the follow up after
Veiga had saved his penalty. To make matters worse Ettien got himself sent off
for a hard tackle on Sporting keeper Valencia, who had to be substituted by
Dani Lastra. However Kaiku and Furiga made it all square after the break, and
although Pablo Amo put the visitors back in front, late goals from Alberto and
Josemi gave the Valencia based side a much needed win. |