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Second Division - Day 41

Ten of the eleven games on the next to last weekend of the season will kick off simultaneously on Sunday, with only the match between Barcelona B and Las Palmas brought forward to Saturday evening. It was a festive evening in the Miniestadi, although Eusebio was missing over half of his first choice side due to first team and youth international call ups, and Portillo in particular could have given the visitors the lead before the break. Kiko Femenía opened the scoring for the youngsters though after running on to a long ball to beat Raúl ten minutes in to the second half, and Rafinha finished things off in the last minute after his first shot came back off the post. (26.05.12)

Deportivo are back! The Galicians ensured promotion and the second division championship in to the bargain after coming from behind to beat Huesca 2-1. A capacity 35,000 crowd turned up to cheer their side on, but they were silenced with just over half an hour gone when Antonio Nuñez picked up the ball in midfield and ran on to beat Aranzubia. Seven minutes later though Depor were level, Helguera turning Medel's cross in to his own net under pressure from Riki, and a few minutes after the restart Riki brought a good save out of Luis García. With the clock running on Oltra eventually turned to super-sub Xisco, and just a couple of minutes later he got on the end of Bruno Gama's cross to chest the ball past the visiting keeper. It was enough to take his team back to the top flight, and La Coruña celebrated long in to the night.

Celta kept up the push for second spot with a 1-2 victory at Gimnàstic, and they only need a draw in their last match against Córdoba to go up. Some 2,000 fans made the long trip to Catalunya, and they were rewarded when Iago Aspas converted a fourth minute penalty after Rodri brought down Toni in the area. With the first half coming to a close Natxo Insa made it two after the defence failed to clear Aspa's cross, but twenty minutes in to the second half Longás got one back, beating Yoel with a shot from inside the centre circle. After that there were some nervous moments as Nàstic pushed forward looking for the equaliser, but the Galicians held on to move ever closer to a return to the first division after an absence of five years.

Third placed Valladolid drop two points behind Celta though after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Alcorcón. It was never going to be an easy game against a side who needed points themselves to consolidate their position in the play-off spots, although Djukic's team went two up with goals either side of half time by Nauzet. With twenty minutes to go though Montañés got one back, and after a prolonged attack, Saúl made it all square after Quini's shot was blocked. Alcorcón still need a point to be sure of a place in the top six, as do Córdoba after they beat Murcia 2-1. Charles turned in Dubarbier's cross to open the scoring ten minutes before the break, and Borja García added a second soon after the restart after picking up a return pass from López Silva. With ten minutes to go though Chando volleyed one back with a shot inside Alberto's left post, leaving the result in doubt right up to the end.

Hércules drop to sixth though after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Xerez, and they now need to win at Huesca next weekend to be sure of a place in the play-offs. The Alicante based side went behind midway through the first half when José Marí beat Juan Carlos. But seven minutes later Michel picked up Gilvan's assist to equalise, and five minutes after that the midfielder got his second of the evening from the penalty spot after Robusté handled in the area. Mandiá's side were unable to hold on to their lead however, Campano levelling the scores once again with a direct free kick early in the second half. If any of the three teams above them fail though, Almería could pip them for the last play-off spot. Esteban Vigo's side beat Guadalajara 0-1, Aarón getting the goal twelve minutes in to the second half after Jakobsen's shot came back off the post. Ulloa missed a penalty earlier on, and the visitors ended the game with ten men after Bernadello was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The remaining games on Sunday had nothing at stake, and Elche will be hoping that the season ends as soon as possible after they were thrashed 4-0 by the already relegated Alcoyano. César Ferrando's team had only picked up four points from their last seven games, and they found themselves behind in the eighth minute when Fabiani beat Leandro. A few minutes later the visiting keeper saved a penalty from Gato, but the striker made up for his miss with his side's second after picking up Diego Jiménez's pass later in the first half. Fabiani made it three after the break from Guille Roldán's cross, and Cañadas completed the scoreline later on. Numancia move up to eighth, three points ahead of Elche, after they beat Sabadell 1-3. Julio Alvarez gave the visitors an early lead, and in the last ten minutes Natalio and Díaz de Cerio added two more before Florian headed a late consolation for the Catalans.

Cartagena are going down with Alcoyano, but they too ended their home programme with a big win after beating Villarreal B 6-2. Braulio's early strike was cancelled out by Gerard Bordas, but before the half time whistle strikes by Abraham Paz and Toni Moral put the locals two goals ahead. Braulio scored his side's fourth from the penalty spot after the interval, and although Bordas got another one back for the visitors, Salva Chamorro netted twice in the last ten minutes to complete the set. Despite their twelfth position in the table, Villarreal B will be relegated to make room for their first team, and that has saved a lot of grief for several teams who otherwise would be fighting for survival. That includes Girona and Recreativo, who picked up a point each in a dull 0-0 draw. (27.05.12)