Second Division - Day 1
Seven matches kicked off the new season on Saturday evening, with Betis and Rayo Vallecano the early leaders after both won their respective matches 3-0. Betis beat neighbours Córdoba with Juanma opening the scoring before the break after picking up a return pass from Pavone. Caffa headed home Pavone's centre to make it two midway through the second half, and Sergio García rounded things off with a shot from outside of the area later on.
Rayo Vallecano recorded a comfortable 3-0 win against Albacete, even though the goals didn't come until after the break. Jofre was the man who made the difference, setting up Quero just five minutes after the restart and then crossing in for Pacheco to head the second. Coke scrambled home the third with two minutes to go.
All three of the sides who were relegated last season won, with Numancia beating Celta 1-2 to end the first day in the promotion spots. Dimas got the winner with twelve minutes to go, picking up the ball outside of the area and firing a shot in to the top corner of the net. New signing Iñigo had given the Soria based side the lead from Barkero's pass three minutes after the interval, but Trashorras equalised with another shot from outside of the area five minutes later.
Recreativo also won away from home, beating newly promoted Real Unión 0-1. The only goal of the game came from Adrián Colunga, who came on as substitute with eight minutes to go to beat Jauregui on a rapid breakaway. Visiting keeper Bernardo did the rest.
Two of the other new boys fared better though, Quique De Lucas scoring early on to give Cartagena a 0-1 win at Girona. In the third minute of the second half local captain Gerard fired a penalty over the bar which could have saved a point for the Catalans.
Joan Tomás and Marco Rubén were on target in the second half for Villarreal B in a 2-2 draw against regional neighbours Levante. Ballesteros and Juanlu had given the visitors a two goal lead at the break, but they felt they should have come away with the three points after Javi Guerra had a goal disallowed near the end.
Elsewhere two of the pre-season promotion favourites Las Palmas and Real Sociedad shared the points in a 1-1 draw, Cejudo turning in Jorge's cross to equalise on the stroke of half time after Agirretxe had put the Basque side ahead. The Canary Islanders were left with ten men when David González picked up a second booking near the end. (29.08.09)
Huesca got their new campaign off to a good start with a 0-2 victory over Elche on Sunday lunchtime. Mikel Rico opened the scoring midway through the first half, beating keeper Wilfredo Caballero at the second attempt after the keeper had blocked his first shot. And Rubiato got the second from the penalty spot with ten minutes to go after Raúl Fuster had fouled Vicente. Fuster himself had to go in goal for the spot kick, Caballero getting himself sent off after being shown two yellow cards in a row for protesting. (30.08.09)
Three more games on Sunday evening, curiously with none of the home teams able to score throughout the day. Salamanca won 0-1 at newly promoted Cádiz, Akinsola getting the only goal late on with an angled shot. The heat in Andalusia meant that the game was played at a slow pace, although Cifuentes and Toedtli both hit the woodwork for the locals before Akinsola's goal.
Nàstic beat Murcia 0-1 later in the evening, Roberto heading the only goal from José Marí's cross ten minutes after the restart. There were no goals at all though in the regional derby between Castellón and Hércules. Both sides were happy in the end to start the season with a point, although if Peña had not cleared a last minute effort off the line the locals could have won. (30.08.09)
