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Second Division - Day 9

Recreativo extended their lead at the top of the second division to four points pending Sunday's games after beating Real Madrid Castilla 1-2 on Saturday evening. Joselu put Sergi Barjuán's ahead in the eighth minute after keeper Rubén Yáñez left the ball at his feet, and although the locals had a chance to equalize when they were awarded a penalty after Zamora handled in the area, Cabrero guessed correctly and saved Borja's spot kick. Cabrera had a goal ruled out for a previous foul and José Rodríguez had another penalty appeal turned down, but with seven minutes to go Ruymán gave away a second penalty, and this time Omar Mascarell made no mistake. Soon afterwards Jaime Romero hit the bar for the home side, but with the first half coming to a close Arana connected with a Linares pass to restore the lead for the visitors. After the restart either side could have scored, but in the end the Andalusians held on for a sixth win in a row, something Spain's oldest club had never previously achieved in their 123 year history, and Castilla stay at the bottom of the table for another week at least.

Murcia are proving to be this season's revelation side, and they currently sit in second spot in the table after a 1-0 victory over Girona. The Catalans had the better of the first half, Eloi hitting the post with a free kick and local keeper Casto having to make a string of saves. But Kike García went close either side of half time as Julio Velázquez's side came back, and with just under an hour on the clock Alex Martínez scored what was to prove the only goal with a free kick which took a deflection off the defensive wall to wrong-foot Isaac. Lugo stay a point behind Murcia, now in third place, after they beat Córdoba 1-0 in their Angel Carro stadium. The Galicians started the day a point behind their visitors in the table, but some ten minutes in to the second half Sandaza won the ball in midfield and ran on to fire a low shot past Saizar to win the match.

Mirandés drop out of the top six however after they lost 2-3 to Alavés. The visitors went ahead with less than a minute gone when Alex Ortíz turned the ball past Dani Jiménez following a corner, but Goiria headed against the bar at the other end, and in the twentieth minute Díaz de Cerio got on the end of an Iriome cross to equalize. Soon afterwards though Viguera headed the Vitoria based side back in front, and a few minutes later Quiroga made it three on a quick breakaway. Goiria did get one back from Palo Infante's corner with four minutes to go, but it came too late to change the result, even though Alavés had Beobide sent off in injury time. Later in the evening Sabadell and Las Palmas could both have moved above Mirandés in to the play-off spots, but in the end they remain outside of the top six after cancelling each other out in a 0-0 draw. The Canary Islanders had the better chances, Tana in particular missing an open goal in the first half after an effort from Máyor came back off the post, and Nauzet saving from substitute Valerón near the end. (12.10.13)

Deportivo are back up into the play-off spots after a 0-1 victory at Barcelona B on Sunday lunchtime, a fourth away win of the season for Fernando Vázquez's side. The Galicians took the lead with just over a minute on the clock, Culio beating Masip after Ilie could only turn Rudy's assist in to the path of the Argentinean forward. And after that the visitors sat back to defend, Lux only troubled in the first half by an effort by Dani Nieto close to half time. After the restart Denis Suárez hit the bar with a free kick, and Lux had to make a good save from Ilie, but Depor held on for a fourth clean sheet in a row, a good sign that they are adapting quickly to life at this level. It was a fourth defeat in a row though for Eusebio's team, and they ended the weekend just two points outside of the relegation zone.

Sporting Gijón drop out of the automatic promotion spots after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Jaén later in the evening. With star striker Scepovic away on international duty, the Asturians were lacking up front, although they went ahead with a little bit of fortune when visiting keeper Toni García dropped Hugo Fraile's cross in to his own net. The visitors had two or three chances though before Jona made it all square midway through the second half, and only a top class save by Cuéllar prevented Cascón from winning it for the Andalusians late on. Ponferradina stay in the top six, although they are now three points off second place after they were beaten 2-1 by an improving Zaragoza. The Maños took the lead against the run of play with just under half an hour gone, Oscar Ramírez turning the ball in to his own net after Henríquez headed on Barkero's cross. Samuel headed the equalizer from Fofo's wide free kick on the stroke of half time, but Víctor Rodríguez got the winner with a well struck free kick after the restart, the referee waving away claims that Laguardia was obstructing the keeper's line of sight from an offside position, albeit with his back to goal. The win takes Paco Herrera's side level on points with their opponents in the table.

Only one point separates sixth from thirteenth spot though in what promises to be another close contest, Numancia catching Alcorcón on thirteen points after beating the Madrid based side 0-1 in their Santo Domingo stadium. Palanca got the only goal in an otherwise dull game with just over an hour on the clock, intercepting a poor pass by Nagore and running on to beat Dani Giménez. Mallorca are level with both of them after they too won 0-1 at struggling Tenerife, again the only goal coming following a defensive mistake which Gerard Moreno took advantage of a quarter of an hour in to the second half. Before that though Raúl Llorente had hit the post for the Canary Islanders and Aridane had had a strike ruled out for offside following a great save by Rubén Miño, but once again this was not their day. Tenerife are now next to bottom, two points behind Hércules, who could only draw 0-0 at home to Eibar. The Alicante based side could have moved up level with their visitors had they won, but once again they put in a disappointing performance, and local coach Quique Hernández is under pressure after the frustrated fans booed their players off the pitch at the end. (13.10.13)