Second Division - Day 25

Alavés stay six points clear at the top of the table pending Sunday’s games after a 0-0 draw at Mirandés on Saturday evening, the Vitoria based side having now taken 14 points from their last six matches away from home. A heavy rainstorm made play difficult, but the locals mastered the conditions better than their opponents, Fernando Pacheco having to save from Ion Vélez and Eguaras before the break. Iñaki, Toquero and Juli all tried their luck for the visitors, but only further important saves by Pacheco from Oyarzun and others ensured a point for Pepe Bordalás’ team. Mirandés themselves are up to fifth, two points behind Nàstic, who beat Elche 1-0 to move up to second spot overnight. Both teams started level on points, but with only eleven minutes gone new signing Aburjania set up Naranjo to open the scoring. However Reina was called on to make first class saves from Eldin and Hugo Fraile after that, and Alvaro headed against the bar as the visitors looked to get something from the match.

It was a very low scoring day though, with only four goals in the five games. Alcorcón stay two points outside of the play-off spots after a 0-0 draw at Ponferradina. Again rain was the main problem, although neither team has been too brilliant recently, the locals dropping to within three points of the relegation spots after six games without scoring a single goal, and the visitors having now gone five matches without a victory. Valladolid are now just a point behind Alcorcón after they beat Bilbao Athletic 0-1, Roger getting the only goal for Miguel Angel Portugal’s team after Rennella and Juan Villar combined to set him up with just over half an hour gone. The youngsters could have saved a point however were it not for a great display by visitng keeper Kepa, who is actually on loan from Bilbao this season! Lugo are level with Valladolid as well after they beat Almería 0-2, a set-back for Gorosito’s side after they appeared to be recovering from their disastrous start to the season. Both goals came after the break, Iriome opening the scoring on a quick breakaway some seven minutes in to the second half, and Pablo Caballero getting the second in injury time to give Luis Milla’s team their first win in five. (13.02.16)

Leganés hold on to second spot for another week after they beat Osasuna 2-0 on Sunday evening. The Madrid based side have not lost at home all season, and they went ahead shortly before the break when Szymanowski beat Nauzet following a short Omar Ramos corner. The visitors were left with ten men when Manuel picked up a second booking soon after the restart, and Rubén Peña picked up a Ramos assist to wrap things up on the hour mark. Osasuna drop out of the play-off spots for the first time this season though after Oviedo beat Tenerife 1-0 to move above them to third. Toché headed the only goal from Susaeta’s cross midway through a rainy first half, and the Asturians held on for a ninth game without defeat despite having Verdés sent off near the end. Córdoba though drop to fifth after they were beaten 0-2 by Zaragoza in this Sunday’s mid-day game. The Maños took the lead in the fifth minute when Razak deflected Pedro’s corner into his own net, the referee waving away claims for a foul on the local keeper by Cabrera. And Hinestroza made it two after Angel set him up at the start of the second half to take his side to within two points of the play-off spots.

It was a low scoring weekend though, with only 14 goals in all, and no less than 13 teams failing to find the net. Llagostera did get two however to beat Albacete 2-0, a first win in almost three months taking them off the bottom of the table to within four points of their opponents in the table. Samu headed the Catalans into the lead from Pitu’s free kick soon after the restart, and Querol got the second after Juan Carlos could only parry a shot from Fofo. The Manchegans ended with nine men after Paredes and Antoñito were both sent off later on, and they stay a point behind Huesca and Mallorca, who both lost. Huesca were beaten 0-1 by Girona, Borja García running through on the quarter hour mark to score the only goal for the Catalans, who held on for the win despite having Lejeune sent off with a half an hour to go. And Mallorca were defeated 2-0 by Numancia, Julio Alvarez getting the opener from the penalty spot in the twentieth minute after David Costas brought down Unai Medina, and then adding the second with a direct free kick midway through the second half. (14.02.16)