Second Division - Day 14

Mallorca beat Córdoba 0-2 on Friday evening, and with the second division once again so tight, the result takes the Balearic islanders up from just above the drop zone right up into the play-off spots. The Andalusians had not won in six games, and despite having the better of the first half they went behind when Brandon set up Moutinho with an hour on the clock. And with twelve minutes to go Brandon made it two following a corner to give Fernando Vázquez’s side their first away win of the season. (11.06.16)

Levante retain their ten point lead at the top of the second division pending Sunday’s games despite a 0-0 draw at home to Cádiz on Saturday, two of their closest rivals beaten earlier in the day. The locals felt they should have had a penalty when a shot from Roger hit Aridane’s arm before the break, and Postiga went close from Campaña’s free kick after the restart. But Raúl Fernández had to make an important save from Ortuño in the second half, and in the end both teams settled for a point. The game ended in disarray however as players clashed at the end, and Cádiz’s Alvaro García was shown a second yellow card which will keep him out of next weekend’s fixtures. Second placed Oviedo though were thrashed 4-0 at Huesca, the result taking the Aragón based side above their opponents in to the direct promotion places. David Ferreiro opened the scoring on the half hour mark with a well struck free kick, and Melero headed the second following a corner. Borja Lázaro made it three from a Samu Sáiz cross on the stroke of half time, and Oscar Gil was sent off for a second bookable offence before Ferreiro wrapped things up late on.

Reus also lost 1-0 at Alcorcón, a third defeat in a row leaving the Catalans down in fifth spot. The locals started the game at the bottom of the table after Nàstic won earlier in the evening. However neither side had many chances, the best falling to Máyor and Oscar Plano before Pabo Pérez headed in a Bellvis cross with twenty minutes to go. Elche took advantage of all that to climb up to sixth after a 2-0 win over Valladolid. Alex Fernández opened the scoring in only the second minute with a header from a Hervías cross, and the ex Espanyol and Reading midfielder wrapped things up with a second header from an Edu Albácar centre with a quarter of an hour to go, giving his team their first home win in six games.

Getafe though lost 1-0 at bottom club Nàstic, a first defeat for the Madrid based side under new coach Pepe Bordalás. Juan Muñiz got the only goal for the Catalans with a well struck free kick midway through the first half, a second win in a row taking them momentarily off the bottom of the table before Alcorcón’s victory later in the day. Numancia stay a point above Nástic after they drew 1-1 at Tenerife, the Canary Islanders themselves still only a point clear of the drop zone. Suso put the home side in front from the penalty spot after Ruíz de Galaretta fouled Camille in the area with ten minutes to go to the break, but Manu del Moral made it all square after a mistake by keeper Falcón on the hour mark. Both team ended with ten men after Jouini and Carlos Gutiérrez picked up second bookings later on in the second half. (12.11.16)

Sevilla Atlético are back up to second after a 1-0 victory over regional neighbours Almería on Sunday afternoon, the result taking them to within eight points of leaders Levante. Cristian headed a Curro corner past Casto in the twelfth minute to open the scoring, but the visitors could have saved a point had Caro not saved a Quique González penalty after Cristian brought down Puertas in the area at the start of the second half. Cristian himself was sent off for a second bookable offence with twenty minutes to go, but Fernando Soriano’s side could not take advantage, and they end the weekend back down in the bottom four. As a B team however Sevilla Atlético are not eligible for promotion, and the second of the direct promotion spots is now occupied by Girona, who won 0-1 at UCAM Murcia later in the evening. Visiting keeper René had to make several saves, in particular from a Góngora free kick, but Longo scored what was to prove the only goal after Portu set him up on the hour mark.

Lugo are just behind Girona on goal difference after a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the mid-day game. Rubén Baraja was in charge of the visitors for the first time after Sandoval was sacked last weekend, but it was a sixth defeat away from home for the Madrid based team, Seoane scoring the only goal for the locals following a corner midway through the first half. With three minutes to go ex Arsenal and Norwich defender Ignasi Miquel was sent off for a hard tackle on Manucho, but the game ended soon afterwards. Zaragoza are a point below Lugo in sixth place following a 2-0 win against Mirandés in the last match of the weekend. Both goals came later on in the first half, Cabrera opening the scoring after Sergio Pérez could only block a header from Juan Muñoz, and Edu García making it two after Muñoz and Cani combined to set him up. It was a fifth defeat in a row for Mirandés without scoring a single goal in that time, and they drop into the relegation spots, below UCAM and Rayo on goal difference. Things are still very even though, with only three points separating third placed Girona from fourteenth placed Getafe, and only five more between the Madrid based side and bottom club Nàstic. (13.11.16)