Second Division - Day 1

Two games in the second division on Friday to start the new campaign, both of which ended in 1-1 draws. First up were Mirandés and Getafe, the visitors looking to return to the top flight after they were relegated on the last day of the season. Guaita had to be on his toes to keep out Fofo before the break, but soon after the restart Dani Pacheco put the Madrid based side ahead from the penalty spot after Fran Cruz fouled Fuster in the area. A few minutes later however Guarrotxena headed the equalizer from Fofo’s long free kick, and only a late save by Guaita prevented Kijera from giving the locals the three points. Later in the evening regional rivals Almería and Cádiz also drew 1-1, a good start for the visitors who were returning to the second division after a six year absence. Both goals came after the interval, Ortuño giving the away team the lead after Salvi’s shot came back off the post. Azeez made it all square though after a corner came back out to him with twenty minutes to go, and Quique had a late effort cleared off the line by a visiting defender. (19.08.15)

Newly promoted Reus started their first ever season in the second division with a 0-1 victory at Mallorca on Saturday evening! The locals had the better chances early on, Colunga in particular testing Edgar Badía with a header, and with just over half an hour gone the Catalans were left with ten men when Migue García picked up a second booking for a foul on Lago Junior. Numbers were evened up however when Moutinho was also sent off for a second bookable offence soon after the restart, and Alberto Benito silenced the home crowd with a long shot past Santamaría in the last minute. A 1-0 scoreline as well in the match between Córdoba and Tenerife, a good result for the Andalusians, who missed out on promotion in last season’s play-offs. Alfaro opened the scoring for the locals after Luso headed on a corner with just under half an hour gone, and the ex Sevilla and Mallorca winger had a chance to increase the lead from the penalty spot after Iñaki fouled Luso in the area with twenty minutes to go. However he fired his spot kick over the bar, and only a great save by Pawel Kieszek prevented Jorge from heading the equalizer late on.

Rayo Vallecano’s hopes of a quick return to the top flight took an early blow after they lost 2-1 at Elche. José Ramón Sandoval’s side took the lead in the twelfth minute, Javi Guerra laying the ball back for Ebert to curl a shot past Juan Carlos. However soon afterwards a Matilla free kick bounced past everyone in to the net (at first it looked like Josete had got a touch, but the referee awarded the goal to the ex Betis player), and with ten minutes to go to the break Matilla got his second of the evening from the penalty spot after Pablo Iñiguez fouled Guillermo in the area. Keepers Gazzaniga and Juan Carlos both made important saves after the restart, but the scoreline remained unmoved. The other match on Saturday between Alcorcón and Huesca ended without goals, the heat in Madrid and the lack of match practice winning the day in the end. The visitors had the better chances in the first half, Samu saiz hitting the woodwork and Dimitrovic having to save from César Soriano and Nagore. The introduction of David Rodríguez in the second half though swung things in favour of the locals, and Sergio Herrera did well to keep out Oscar Plano late on. (20.08.16)

Levante were the only one of the relegated three teams to win on the opening day, the Valencia based side beating Numancia 0-1 on Sunday evening. Neither keeper was particularly troubled in a dull first half, but soon after the restart Remiro had to save a header from Julio Alvarez. Substitute Jason scored what was to prove the only goal though after Espinosa set him up on the hour mark, and after that there were three red cards, visiting left back getting his marching orders for a second bookable offence a minute or two after the goal, and locals Unai Medina and Pedraza both being shown straight reds for hard tackles on opponents later on. A much changed Valladolid also got off to a winning start, Paco Herrera’s team clºocking up a 1-0 victory over Oviedo. With several players missing, the coach was forced to include three youngsters in his line up, and it was one of those, José Arnáiz, who battled though to control a long ball by Leao and poke a shot past Juan Carlos with just over a quarter of an hour gone. In the end however Isaac Becerra proved to be the hero, the ex Girona keeper making three top class saves from Toché after the restart.

Nástic and Girona both made it in to the play-offs last season, and they began their respective campaigns with high scoring draws. Nàstic had to come from two goals down though to draw 2-2 with Lugo, the Galicians taking the lead though Pedraza on a quick counter-attack, and then scoring a second from the penalty spot, Joselu converting the kick after Xavi Molina fouled an opponent in the area. Substitute Uche got one back though with a second penalty after Ignasi Miquel brought down Alex López, and López saved a point for the Catalans when he turned in a Gerard Valentín cross with a couple of minutes to go. Nàstic’s regional neighbours Girona went one better however, recovering from a three goal deficient against Sevilla Atlético to draw 3-3 in the end. The youngsters went two up with strikes a minute either side of half time, Cotán heading in a corner and Lasso making it two with a shot from the edge of the area past Bono. Ten minutes later Carrillo set up Carlos Fernández for a third, but Longo forced a shot under Soriano to reduce the gap, and Alcaraz scored twice with the game already in injury time, the first a shot which took a wicked bounce past the keeper, and the second with a volley from a wide angle out on the right. (21.08.16)

Zaragoza begin the new season at the top of the second division after they beat new boys UCAM Murcia on Monday evening. Up to that point, no team had won by more than a single goal on the opening weekend, Elche topping the table with their 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. By half time however the Maños were already three goals up, Angel getting on the end of Xumetra’s cross to open the scoring in the eighth minute. With ten minutes to go the break, the ex Elche and Levante striker made it two with an acrobatic overhead kick following a corner, and Lanzarote netted the third with an angled shot past Biel Ribas after Angel put him through. The visitors did get a late consolation, Imaz converting an injury time penalty after he was brought down in the area by Irureta, but they couldn’t prevent a defeat which leaves them at the foot of the rankings for now. (22.08.16)