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Second Division - Day 27

Recreativo return to the top of the second division, at least pending the games of Deportivo and Eibar tomorrow, after beating Barcelona B 0-1 on Saturday evening. Sergi Barjuán’s side appeared to have recovered the early form which saw them lead the table during the opening weeks, and although Cabrero had to keep out Dongou soon after the start, Joselu put them ahead after picking up a through ball from Alvaro Antón. Dani Nieto tested the visiting keeper again in the second half, but Masip had to save from Joselu, and Menosse came close to a second with a shot just wide of the post near the end. Recre stay a point ahead of Sporting Gijón, who are back in to the direct promotion spots after a 2-0 victory against Alavés. The visitors dominated the first half though, Viguera in particular firing a shot wide, although the best chances fell to the locals, with Scepovic heading against the bar. With just under an hour on the clock Carmona gave the Asturians the lead, firing a shot past Goitia after a corner came back out to him, and although Viguera and Manu García both hit the woodwork at the other end, Santi Jara wrapped things up in injury time after Isma López set him up.

Las Palmas coach Sergio Lobera started the game against Girona knowing that a poor result could well cost him his job, but he saved himself for the time being after his side came back from a goal down to beat the Catalans 2-1. Valerón and Tana went close for the Canary Islanders in the first half, but after an hour or so the coach decided to replace both of them with Aranda and Masoud, much to the anger of the crowd. Soon afterwards Gerard Bordas put the visitors in front with an angled shot from outside of the area, but five minutes later Aranda played across an Apoño through ball for Asdrúbal to level the scores, and with the game coming to an end Aranda got free on the left and laid the ball across to the far post for Masoud to drill home the winner. It was a first home victory for Las Palmas in three months, and they move back up to fifth as a result. Lobera may be safe, but Mallorca coach José Luis Oltra may be on the way out after his team could only draw 0-0 at Mirandés. Chances were few and far between, although Pablo Infante came closest to beating Aouate in the closing minutes. A fifth game without a win though for the islanders, and a valuable point for the locals, who move out of the bottom four as a result. (22.02.14)

Deportivo moved back up to first place prior to Eibar’s game later in the evening after a last minute 1-2 win at Alcorcón on Sunday lunchtime. Oscar Plano and Juli brought early saves out of Fabricio, but with ten minutes on the clock a wide Juan Domínguez free kick found its way past everyone in to the net. Three minutes later though Angel Sánchez fired home the equalizer after Juli’s cross was only partly cleared, and there were chances at both ends after that, with local keeper Dani Giménez in particular making two or three good saves. The game appeared to be heading for a draw however until the last minute, when Toché headed up a Luisinho corner, and Lopo ran in on the far post to head home the winner. The Galicians move ahead of Recreativo on goal difference, but the defeat leaves their hosts just above the bottom four having not won at home since the end of September.

Later in the evening Eibar edged back above Deportivo on goal difference after a 0-0 draw at Murcia. Despite the result it was a lively game, with the action picking up towards the final minutes. However local keeper Casto made key saves from Gilvan and Urko Vera, and Kike García missed a good chance to win it for the locals late on. The draw means that the top three are tied on points, with Sporting just one point behind them in the tightest of battles for promotion. The top four have opened up a seven point gap over the rest though, Numancia currently occupying fifth spot ahead of Las Palmas after they too drew 0-0 at Sabadell. The two keepers were on top throughout, Nauzet and Biel Ribas setting the tone early on with saves from Sergi Enrich and Martí Crespi. The result means that the Soria based side have gone half a season since their last defeat away from home, with more than half their games to date ending in draws. The Catalans though have not won in six games, and they drop in to the bottom four, albeit that they are only six points behind their opponents in the table.

Zaragoza are out of the play-off spots after they lost 0-2 to Real Madrid Castilla. Paco Herrera’s side had only picked up one point from their last three games, and once again they got off to a bad start, Leo Franco having to save from De Tomás before he was beaten on the quarter hour mark by a long shot from Burgui. Lucas made it two with a shot which deflected in off Rico some ten minutes from the end, and although Willian José got himself sent off after picking up two bookings in a minute, the youngsters held on for a win which takes them out of the relegation spots for the first time this season. Hércules also moved out of the bottom four after they beat Ponferradina 1-0 in their Rico Pérez stadium. Results on Saturday meant that the Alicante based side had fallen back in to the drop zone, and only the woodwork and some good goalkeeping by Falcón prevented them from going behind early on. However with ten minutes to go substitute Azkorra got what was to prove the only goal just minutes after coming on to give his team a second win in a row, a result which takes them above their opponents in the table.

No less than four sides ended the weekend just a point below the play-off spots, Tenerife drawing level with Murcia, Zaragoza and Lugo after they beat the Galicians 1-3 away from home. Lugo were still reeling from their 6-0 defeat at Girona last weekend, and they went behind early on when Aridane headed past Dani Mallo following a cross by Javi Moyano. The local keeper made some brave saves but had to be replaced by José Juan after he injured himself shortly before the break, but before that Alvaro Peña had equalized after Rennella set him up. Ayoze restored the lead though some six minutes in to the second half after running on to a long ball from Luismi Loro, and the young striker wrapped things up in injury time on a quick breakaway immediately after Roberto had kept out a Pita free kick. Córdoba and Jaén are now two points below the Canary Islanders after they cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw. Chapi Ferrer was in charge of the locals for the first time after replacing Pablo Villa a few days ago, but hopes of a victory against their regional rivals ended on the stroke of half time when Iago Bouzón was sent off for a bad tackle on Oscar Rico, and after that they settled for a point. (23.02.14)