Second Division - Day 8

Leaders Osasuna were beaten 3-0 by regional neighbours Alavés on Saturday, a first defeat for Enrique Martín’s side in five weeks. Toquero got on the end of a wide Dani Pacheco free kick to head the locals into the lead in the seventh minute, but Roberto Torres and David García went close for the visitors before Estrada made it two with a shot which deflected in off a defender with twenty minutes to go. With ten minutes to go Manu García converted a penalty given away by Merino, and Nauzet had let in three goals, the same number he had given away all season up to then. Alavés move up to fourth, level on points with Numancia, who are now second and still unbeaten after a 0-0 draw at Bilbao Athletic. With first choice keepers Remiro and Munir away on international duty, Jon Ander and Biel Ribas took the opportunity to impress their respective coaches, the former saving an Oscar Díaz penalty and the latter keeping out Santamaría and others throughout the match. Both teams ended with ten men after Nacho and then Unai Bilbao were sent off with a quarter of an hour or so to go.

Mirandés are now sixth after they beat Elche 1-4 in their Martínez Valero stadium. All the goals came in the second half, Galán putting the visitors ahead following a corner just a minute after the restart. Ion Vélez took advantage of slack defending to make it two soon afterwards, and although Vergos headed one back from an Alex Martínez free kick, Salinas made it three from the penalty spot after keeper Javi Jiménez was sent off for bringing down Lago Junior in the area. Rubén Baraja had already made his three changes before that, so Mandi had to goal in goal, and Lago Junior himself wrapped things up with five minutes left on the clock. Nàstic drop to seventh, below Mirandés on goal difference, after they drew 2-2 at Ponferradina. Yuri opened the scoring for the home side from the penalty spot against the run of play after Mossa brought down Acorán in the area with just under an hour gone. Xisco Muñoz levelled it though a quarter of an hour later, the first goal that Manolo Díaz’s side had let in at home all season, and although Basha restored the lead, Alex López saved a point for the Catalans near the end. Elsewhere Tenerife and Leganés ended the day in mid-table after cancelling each other out in a dull 0-0 draw. Keepers Dani Hernández and Serantes had little to do, and the home fans whistled their players off at the end. (10.10.15)

Córdoba join Osasuna at the top of the table after a 1-2 victory at Lugo on Sunday, although the Pamplona based side still remain in first place on goal difference. José Luis Oltra’s side found themselves behind though when Pablo Caballero controlled Manu’s centre to beat Falcón in the twentieth minute, but Xisco picked up a Markovic assist to lob José Juan just seven minutes later, and Jean Pineda got the winner after Pedro Ríos set him up with ten minutes to go. Alcorcón missed out on a chance to join the leaders after they lost 0-1 to Huesca. Machis got the only goal following a corner midway through the second half to take the Aragón based side out of the bottom four. And Oviedo are up to sixth spot, a point behind Alcorcón, after a 2-3 victory at Valladolid in this Sunday’s mid-day game. Linares opened the scoring for the Asturians in the twelfth minute, and although Juan Villar made it all square three minutes later from an Alvaro Rubio assist, Toché headed past Julio to restore the lead soon afterwards. Angel connected with a Javi Moyano centre on the hour mark to level the scores once again, but Susaeta forced a shot past the young keeper with twelve minutes to go to leave Garitano’s side just above the drop zone.

Only four points though separate the top nine, Zaragoza ending the weekend in seventh spot after a 1-3 win at Albacete. The Maños raced into a three goal lead with only a quarter of the game gone, Ortuño setting up Diamanka for the opener in the eighth minute and then heading in a corner himself for the second some ten minutes later, and Diego Rico firing home the third soon afterwards. The locals were left with ten men when Jason picked up a second booking midway through the second half, but Rubén Cruz at least scored a late consolation for the Manchegans in injury time. Further down the table Mallorca are off bottom spot after a 1-0 win against Llagostera, Sissoko getting the only goal after the break to take some of the pressure off manager Chapi Ferrer. The islanders stay in the drop zone though together with Llagostera themselves, as well as Bilbao Athletic and Almería, who drew 1-1 at Girona in the last match of the weekend. Caretaker coach Miguel Rivera was in charge of the Andalusians after Sergi Barjuan was fired last week, and although Quique González converted a third minute penalty for his team after the striker was brought down by Richy, Aday equalized for the Catalans with an angled shot just five minutes later. (11.10.15)