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Second Division - Day 1

Girona and newly promoted Alavés kicked off the new campaign on Friday night, the Catalans running out 1-0 winners to start the season as they left off. Having just missed out on promotion last year, the locals began in a confident mood, Ricky and Timor going close from dead ball kicks early on, and Goitia having to save from Migue following another Timor free kick. Ion Vélez headed wide in reply, but ten minutes in to the second half Felipe Sanchón scored what was to prove the only goal with a shot from outside of the area which took a slight deflection off Mora. (16.08.13)

Back to square one for Deportivo after their relegation last season, but they got off to a good start with a 0-1 victory at Las Palmas on Saturday evening. The Galicians had the better of the first half, Barbosa having to save from Bruno Gama and Arizmendi, and just five minutes after the restart Pablo Insúa got on the end of Culio's corner to head the opener. Culio got himself sent off a few minutes later though for a second bookable offence, but numbers were evened up when Castillo was also red carded for a second booking, and despite the best efforts of Valerón (who left Depor to return home in the summer), the Canary Islanders were unable to get the goal they needed.

Zaragoza though suffered a set-back in their first match back in the second division, Paco Herrera's side being held to a 1-1 draw by a depleted Hércules. Both teams have been renewing their squads, but the locals in particular only had two first team substitutes plus a couple of youngsters due to injuries and bureaucratic problems. Only a couple of efforts from Portillo and Luis García caused any problems for the two keepers, but just four minutes in to the second half Sardinero headed the locals in to the lead from Héctor Font's cross. Substitute Roger made it all square in the end however after getting on the end of a Paco Montañés cross to beat Falcón.

Mirandés only just saved themselves from relegation after the players helped raise the necessary share capital only hours before the July 31st deadline, but showed they now mean to stay up after a 2-1 victory over Barcelona B. It did though take a great performance by Francisco Prieto to ensure them the three points, the Chilean keeper saving from Joan Román and Dongou before Iriome connected with Dorcal's cross to open the scoring. Díaz de Cerio made it two soon after the restart with a shot from outside of the area, and although Nieto took advantage of a poor back pass by Iriome to get one back, Prieto and his defence held fast after that.

It was a low scoring day though, with no goals at all in the match between Lugo and Numancia. The best chances fell to Pablo Alvarez and Sandaza in the first half, but visiting keeper Biel Ribas kept them out, and in the end both coaches opted for a point to start them off. A scoreless draw also appeared to be on the cards between Córdoba and Ponferradina, but new signing Strahman got on the end of a López Silva cross in the third minute of injury time to give the Andalusians a 1-0 win. (17.08.13)

Sabadell are the early leaders of the second division after a surprise 4-0 victory over Mallorca on Sunday evening. The Balearic islanders were looking for a first win to put them on track for an early return to the top flight, and they dominated the opening minutes, De Navas saving from Aki and Ximo, and Alfaro being pulled up a couple of times for marginal offsides. However with twenty minutes on the clock Cristian García put the locals ahead from a Javi Barral cross, and six minutes later Carlos Hernández headed the second past Aouate following a corner. Oltra made two changes at the break, but midway through the second half Cristian got his second of the night after picking up a back-heel pass from Tanabe, and soon afterwards Anibal headed in another corner to complete the scoring.

Alcorcón and Murcia were unsure about whether they would be playing in the second division or not right up until a couple of days before kick-off, the former pending an audit on their capital increase, and the latter waiting for an appeal by Guadalajara, although in the end both had their places confirmed. Alcorcón celebrated with a 1-0 win over Tenerife, the only goal coming from an injury time penalty which Juli converted after Chechu handled inside the area. The game was halted for ten minutes or so though when Rubén Sanz knocked himself out against a hoarding whilst in a tackle with Cristo, and although the player finally recovered consciousness, he was shipped off to hospital for observation in an ambulance which had to come on to the pitch to take him away.

Murcia though lost their opening game 2-3 to Recreativo despite putting up a good fight, and having had to remake their squad at short notice they may struggle again this season. A goal either side of half time by Linares put the visitors two up, but the locals fought back to equalise with strikes by Kike García and Acciari. With Recre down to ten men after Ruyman was sent off, it looked as if Julio Velázquez's side were going to turn things around, but Jorge won it for the Andalusians with a well struck free kick with three minutes to go.

As luck would have it, two of the new boys faced each other in their opening match, Eibar running out 1-2 winners at Real Jaén in the end. Jota gave the Basque side the lead some five minutes before the break, and Raúl Navas added a second on the hour mark before Jozabed got a late consolation for the Andalusians. Elsewhere Sporting Gijón got their new campaign off to a winning start after they beat Real Madrid Castilla 1-0. The Asturians were by far the better side, new signing Scepovic hitting the post before scoring what was to prove the only goal midway through the first half, the Serbian striker controlling López Garai's pass before firing a shot past Pacheco. (18.08.13)