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Second Division - Day 11

With the Barcelona - Real Madrid "clásico" occupying prime time, there were only two second division games on Saturday evening. Zaragoza were first up against Alavés, the Maños frustrated in their push to move up in to the top six after they were held to a 2-2 draw thanks to a hotly disputed penalty in the last minute of time added on. Roger gave Paco Herrera's side the lead after Henríquez put him through some time minutes prior to the interval, and just two minutes later Barkero took advantage of a slip-up by Nano to make it two. Early in the second half though the Vitoria based side got one back when Viguera picked up a Guzmán assist to beat Leo Franco, and in the 93rd minute the referee sent off Cortés after Toti fell under his challenge, and Viguera stepped up to drill home the resulting spot kick.

Later in the evening Tenerife beat Deportivo 2-0, a second win in a row for the Canary Islanders taking them to within a point of escaping the drop zone. For the eleventh time in twelve official games this season Alvaro Cervera's side reached half time with a 0-0 scoreline, but ten minutes in to the second half Carlos Ruíz headed Rivero's corner past Lux to open the scoring. The Galicians offered little in reply, and with the match in injury time Aridane picked up a pass from Suso to wrap things up. It was only a second away defeat for Fernando Vázquez's team, and they stay down in fifth spot pending Sunday's games as a result. (26.10.13)

Recreativo are going from strength to strength this season, and the Andalusians opened up a six point gap at the top after a 3-1 victory over Mallorca on Sunday lunchtime. Linares scored the opener for the locals on the quarter hour mark after picking up a Fernando Vega pass and cutting in to fire a low shot across Rubén Miño. Ten minutes later though Cabrero had to push a shot from Aki around the post, and from the resulting Víctor corner Gerard Moreno headed the equalizer. Just before half time the referee waved away Recre's claims for a goal when Geromel cleared an effort by Linares from under the crossbar, but twelve minutes in to the second half the striker restored the lead with a header from another Antón corner. However there were some nervous moments for the home fans until Arana wrapped things up in injury time, catching Miño off his line with a shot from some 40 metres out.

Lugo are up to second in the table after a 1-0 win against Sabadell later in the evening. Rennella and Sandaza both tested Nauzet early on, and Pablo Sánchez gave the Galicians the lead after the visiting keeper could only push out a shot by Iago Díaz shortly before the break. José Juan did have some work to do in the second half, but Víctor Díaz could have increased the lead hit the bar near the end. For the third game in a row the Catalans failed to score, and they found themselves down in the relegation spots at the end of the weekend, albeit only five points away from sixth placed Deportivo. Lugo's victory means that Murcia drop to third after they could only draw 2-2 at home to Córdoba. The Andalusians started the game just a point behind Julio Velázquez's side, and both teams had chances in a lively first half. Ten minutes after the restart Mauro Dos Santos gave the locals the lead after Truyols headed on a Saúl free kick, but just two minutes later the goalscorer gave away a penalty at the other end which Carlos Caballero converted. With an hour on the clock Caballero got his second of the game with a shot from outside of the area, but two minutes in to time added on Kike García won a second penalty which he himself fired home to save a late point.

A hat-trick by Las Palmas striker Chrisantus gave the Canary Islanders a 2-3 victory against Sporting Gijón in the Molinón stadium. The Nigerian striker ran past a hesitant defence to poen the scoring in the eighth minute, and a quarter of an hour he added a second after Bernardo gave the ball away. Mandi got one back though with half an hour gone following a Nacho Cases free kick, and shortly before half time Scepovic ran on to a López Garai through ball to equalize. However midway through the second half Chrisantus completed his hat-trick after Masoud set him up, and the visitors held on for a win which takes them above their hosts to fifth spot in the table. Mirandés and Numancia are now a point behind the Asturians after they cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw. The locals felt themselves unlucky not to take the three points however after Juanma hit the post and visiting keeper Raúl Fernández pulled off a string of top class saves.

A 0-0 draw as well between Alcorcón and Girona, two teams who started the season well but who are now faltering. The game was preceded by an emotive tribute to Girona's third goalkeeper, Nil Marín, who was killed in a car crash a few days ago. It was their first choice keeper Isaac Becerra who was the star of the match though, starting with first minute save from Quini. Felipe Sanchón did hit the post at the other end later in the first half, but Isaac produced some fine saves after that, and when he was beaten by Babín the strike was ruled out for a questionable offside. Eibar took advantage of the slips by the teams above them to jump six places to ninth following a 0-2 win at Barcelona B. The Basque side hit the woodwork twice in the first half, a shot by Morales and a soft penalty by Arruabarrena after Patric brought down Eizmendi in the area. Eizmendi headed in the opener from Lillo's cross some ten minutes in to the second half, and after Patric was sent off for a second bookable offence, Morales wrapped things up near the end.

Ponferradina also drop a point behind Eibar to eleventh after a 1-1 draw at bottom club Real Madrid Castilla. It was not a good weekend for Real Madrid on the refereeing front, and after the complaints of their first team against Undiano Mallenco in last night's "clásico" in the Nou Camp, this time it was Figueroa Vázquez who was the target of their ire. The referee turned down good penalty appeals by Benavente and De Tomás, but with the game coming to an end he awarded a dubious one to the visitors when Yuri fell under a challenge from Pulido, Yuri himself converting the spot kick. Burgui had given the youngsters the lead in the twentieth minute, and Ponfe had held on with ten men after Carpio picked up two bookings a minute either side of half time. Castilla are now nine points away from safety after Jaén beat fellow strugglers Hércules 0-1 to move out of the bottom four. The Alicante based side came up against an excellent René in the visiting goal (as well as the woodwork a couple of times), and Jona won it from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour to go after Juanma Ortíz brought down Víctor Curto in the area. It was an eighth game in a row without a win for Quique Hernández's side, and with his side next to bottom in the table the coach may not have much time left to turn things around. (27.10.13)