Second Division - Day 31

Leaders Leganés were held to a 0-0 draw by Elche on Saturday evening, their third game in a row without a win. The game got off to tense start, the only chances in the first half a long shot from Ruíz de Galarreta which Javi Jiménez kept out, and a header at the other end from Alvaro. After the restart though things livened up, Lázaro and Szymanowski bringing good saves out of the visiting keeper, and Sergio León and Alex Moreno trying their luck for Rubén Baraja’s side. The point though does ensure that Leganés stay top for another week, and Nàstic are now up to second pending Sunday’s game between Córdoba and Alavés after they beat Numancia 1-0. Emaná hit the woodwork before Naranjo set him up for the only goal at the start of the second half, and Naranjo, Emaná and Jean Luc could all have increased the lead later on. Mossa did have to clear an effort from Vicente off the line with keeper Reina beaten, but after Pablo Valcarce was sent off for a second bookable offence, any hope the visitors had of saving something ended.

Oviedo are back up to fourth after they won 3-0 against Ponferradina, a first victory for caretaker coach David Generelo. Susaeta set up Toché for the opener and Fernández headed the second from a Susaeta corner with ten minutes still to go to the break. Toché combined with Susaeta again to make it three midway through the second half, and the visitors ended with ten men when Berrocal was sent off for protesting near the end. Osasuna are up to fifth after they drew 0-0 against Tenerife, although they could be out of the play-off spots again by the end of the weekend if results go against them on Sunday. Visiting keeper Dani Hernández kept the Canary Islanders in the game with a string of saves in the first half, in particular from De las Cuevas and David García, but Suso, Omar and Saúl all had chances for the visitors after the restart. Further down the table bottom club Bilbao Athletic beat Huesca 1-2, a result which left the locals just two points above the drop zone. Aketxe opened the scoring at the start of the second half with a well struck free kick, and although Fran Mérida equalized from the penalty spot after Ramalho handled in the area, Seguín picked up an assist from Villalibre to score the winner a few minutes later. (26.03.16)

Alavés are back up to second after beating Córdoba 1-2 in this Sunday’s mid-day game, a first victory in seven matches for Pepe Bordalás’ side. The locals themselves had lost their last four games in their Arcángel stadium though, and although Xisco and Caballero both hit the woodwork before the break, they found themselves behind when Toquero connected with a Juli centre to beat Falcón on the hour mark. Just three minutes later Xisco headed the equalizer from a Fidel cross, but with twenty minutes to go Bernadello ran through to score the winner. Zaragoza failed to capitalize on Córdoba’s defeat however, the Maños staying outside of the top six after losing 0-3 at home to Girona later in the evening. Mata put the Catalans in front midway through the first half after Lejeune headed back a corner, and some five minutes later the locals were left with ten men when Cabrera was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Eloi. Soon afterwards Mata set up Cristian Herrera for the second, and substitute Lekic wrapped things up on a quick counter-attack later on.

Further surprising results elsewhere as well in the evening games, not least of which a 4-0 defeat for Alcorcón at next to bottom club Llagostera. Natalio was the hero of the night with a first half hat-trick, the opener after Ríos set him up with just under half an hour gone. Two more followed in the next twelve minutes, and Fofo completed the scoring from Tébar’s assist with a quarter of an hour to go. The Madrid based side are now ninth, two points off the play-off spots, and Lugo moved above them to eighth after beating Albacete 2-1. Jonathan Pereira got on the end of a Carlos Pita centre to give the Galicians the lead in the tenth minute, and Campillo and Pereria combined to set up Caballero for the second at the start of the second half. Portu got one back a few minutes later though, and only some top class saves from José Juan prevented the Manchegans from coming away with a point.

Valladolid’s push for the play-off spots took a blow after they were beaten 4-1 at Mirandés, and they drop below their hosts to thirteenth, albeit still just three points off fifth placed Osasuna. Galán and Provencio put the locals two up at the break, the first from Oyarzun’s free kick and the second from an Eguaras cross. After the restart Alex García netted the third himself and then set up Aridane for the fourth, and Guzmán got a late consolation for the visitors from the penalty spot with the game already in injury time. Elsewhere Almería stay down in the relegation zone after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca, who themselves remain just three points above the bottom four. Héctor Yusté opened the scoring for the visitors with a header from a free kick totally against the run of play with a quarter of an hour to go, but José Angel equalized a few minutes later to extend his team’s unbeaten run to six matches. (27.03.16)