Second Division - Day 13
None of the top three were in action on Saturday, and they can all be sure of another week in the promotion spots after the teams immediately below them all failed to win. Levante and Córdoba cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw, Pepe Diaz missed an early penalty for the visitors after Cendros fouled Javi Flores, and the Andalusians were unable to score even though the locals played over half the match with ten men after Serra was sent off for elbowing Arteaga. And fifth placed Rayo Vallecano could only pick up a point in a 1-1 draw at Gimnàstic, Miguel Angel's opener for the Catalans shortly before half time cancelled out by Michel's equaliser from Piti's cross midway through the second half.
Villarreal B moved up to eighth in the table after a 0-2 win at Celta, who stay in the relegation spots as a result. Once again Eusebio's side failed to take advantage of their chances, and the "mini-submarine" wrapped things up in the second half with a lob from Nacho Insa and a counter-attack finished off by Hernán Pérez. And Las Palmas stay in twelfth spot after they could only draw 2-2 with bottom club Castellón, even though the visitors had Enguix sent off for a second bookable offence with a quarter of an hour to go. Juanpa and Marcos Márquez put the Canary Islanders ahead twice at the beginning of the first and second halves, but Uranga and Mantecón equalised both times.
Castellón stay in last spot though after Murcia beat Real Unión 3-0. Natalio scored twice before the break for José González's side, and completed his hat-trick on the hour mark to give his team their first win of the season. Real Unión drop into the bottom four after Huesca beat Albacete 2-1, Echaide scoring the winner in injury time after Verza had equalised Mikel Rico's earlier strike. The Manchegans ended with nine men after Salva and Alberto were sent off late on. Girona move away from the danger zone though after a 4-0 victory over Cádiz, second half goals from Dorca, Peragón, Migue and Gabri taking the Catalans three points clear of their opponents in the table. (21.11.09)
Real Sociedad are back on top of the second division pending Hercules's game later in the day after beating last week's leaders Cartagena 1-0 on Sunday lunchtime. The visitors held their own until Cygan was sent off for a second bookable offence soon after the restart, but it was not until the last minute that Aguirretxe got on the end of a cross from fellow substitute Nsue to head home the winner. (22.11.09)
Reports on Sunday evening's games to follow.
