Second Division - Day 22

Alavés moved three points clear at the top of the table pending Córdoba’s match on Sunday after a 1-0 victory over Huesca on Saturday evening. Manu Barreiro got on the end of Toquero’s cross to open the scoring somewhat against the run of play in the twentieth minute. The Vitoria based side controlled the game after that though, and Toquero and Dani Pacheco could both have added to the lead later on. Meanwhile Leganés are up to third after they beat struggling Almería 2-1 later in the evening. This was always going to be a home banker, the Madrid based side unbeaten this season in their Butarque stadium, and the visitors yet to win away. With only five minutes gone Szymanowski got on the end of a Rubén Peña centre to open the scoring, and Mantovani made it two following a corner close to half time. Quique got one back though after half time substitute Chuli set him up just a minute after coming on, and the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle.

Leganés are now level on points with Oviedo, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Lugo. The Asturians went two up in the first ten minutes, Borja Valle getting the first after David López gave the ball away, and Toché the second from a cross by Johannesson. However by half time the locals had made it all square, Carlos Hernández heading in a corner, and Jonathan Pereira picking up an assist from David Ferreiro to beat Esteban. Alcorcón drop three points below Oviedo though after they were beaten 1-0 by Mallorca. Michael Pereira got the only goal from the penalty spot after Nelson brought down Moutinho with twelve minutes to go to get new coach Fernando Vázquez off to a good start. The islanders climb out of the relegation spots above Huesca, and Girona also move clear of the danger zone after a 2-1 victory over bottom club Bilbao Athletic. Lejeune headed the opener from a Granell corner in the twentieth minute, but Aketxe equalized some ten minutes later with a well struck free kick, and it was not until five minutes from the end that Borja García connected with Alamo’s centre to score the winner. (23.01.16)

Second placed Córdoba lost ground on leaders Alavés after they were beaten 2-0 bat Valladolid in this Sunday’s mid-day game. Both goals came in the first ten minutes, Manu del Moral opening the scoring with an individualist effort, and Macelo Silva getting the second after Razak could only push out a Mojica free kick. The locals could have added to the scoreline after that, Juan Villar in particular hitting the bar, but it was a second win in a row for Miguel Angel Portugal’s side, and they are now only three points away from the play-off spots. Osasuna are back up to third after they won 3-0 against Llagostera later in the evening, a first home win in almost two months for the Pamplona based side. The Catalans have only picked up one away point all season though, and they went behind with virtually the last kick of the first half, Nino beating René at the second attempt after the keeper had blocked his first effort. With twelve minutes to go Berenguer made it two after Roberto Torres sent him up, and Maikel Mesa scored the third following an Oier assist right at the end.

Nàstic are also back into the play-off spots after they drew 1-1 at Albacete, the result leaving the Manchegans just two points above the bottom four. The locals had the better chances in the first half though, and they took the lead with a Jona penalty after Iago Bouzón brought down Adriá Carmona in the area some twenty minutes after the restart. However with a quarter of an hour to go Achille Emaná and Palance combined to set up Emaná’s younger brother Stephane for the equalizer, and despite the best efforts of both teams, that was how it stayed. Nàstic move above Alcorcón on goal difference, and Elche join them both on 34 points after they won 1-0 against Ponferradina in the last match of the weekend. Rubén Baraja’s side were up against it though when Pelayo was sent off for a second bookable offence at the start of the second half, Alvaro Antón firing the resulting free kick against the post. However with a quarter of an hour or so to go top scorer Sergio León got on the end of an Alex Martínez cross to turn in the winner.

Mirandés are now two points below Elche and the rest after they won 1-2 at Zaragoza. Carlos Terrazas’ team are in the middle of a quarter final cup tie with Sevilla, but they put that to one side, and took the lead when Eguaras fired a long shot past Bono midway through the first half. Angel made it all square shortly before the interval, but some six minutes in to the second half Alex García restored the lead following a quick breakaway to take the visitors a point above their hosts in the table. Elsewhere Tenerife and Numancia shared the points in a 0-0 draw. Both teams ending the weekend safely ensconced in mid-table going in to the second half of the season. The Canary Islanders started strongly, Munir having to save from Aitor Sánz, Lozano and Omar in the first ten minutes, but after that the game quietened down, and apart from an effort from Alex Alegría which Dani Hernández kept out, chances were few and far between. (24.01.16)