Second Division - Day 26

Elche move up in to the top half of the table pending the rest of the weekend fixtures after a 1-2 victory at Lugo in the Friday night game. New signing Borja Valle gave the visitors the lead in the twentieth minute with a low shot past José Juan, and Nino made it two soon afterwards after a first effort was blocked. With half time approaching Jordi Calavera got one back with a volley following a corner, but Juan Carlos and his defence stood fast after the break, the keeper in particular making a couple of first class saves from Joselu near the end. (17.02.17)

The top two tightened their grip on the direct promotion spots after both won on Saturday evening. Levante beat Córdoba 3-1, Campaña giving them the lead early on with a well struck free kick. Héctor Rodas volleyed in a corner to make it all square with just over half an hour gone, but Roger put the Valencia based side back in front midway through the second half, and Jason wrapped things up in injury time. Levante remain nine points clear of second placed Girona, who won 1-0 against Mallorca later in the evening. Juanpe headed the only goal from a Granell corner ten minutes before the break to make it seven home wins in a row for the Catalans.

Girona themselves have opened up an eight point gap over third place, currently occupied by Tenerife after they beat Almería 1-0. Cámara picked up a pass from Omar to beat Casto in the ninth minute, and Dani Hernández and his defence held on after that for their sixth clean sheet in a row. Valladolid moved up in to the play-off spots pending Sunday’s games after a 1-3 win at UCAM Murcia, who ended with ten men after Albizua was sent off some twenty minutes in to the second half. De Tomás and José Arnáiz put the visitors two up at the break, and Michel added a third before Jona got a last minute consolation for the hosts. The University side are now just a place above the relegation spots, two points above Nàstic, who climbed off the bottom of the table after beating Numancia 2-0. Cordero and Tejera got the goals after the interval to take Juan Merino’s side above Almería and Mirandés. (18.02.17)

The eight point gap between the two leaders and the rest was confirmed on Sunday when the teams directly below them failed to win. Cádiz stay in third spot despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Reus, although they are now level on points with Tenerife, and with Oviedo, who beat last week’s fourth placed side Getafe 2-1. Toché fired the Asturians ahead with a quarter of an hour on the clock, but Chuli got on the end of an Alvaro Jiménez cross to make it all square just a minute in to the second half. Erice got the winner though with two minutes to go to take Fernando Hierro’s side a point above their opponents in the table.

Huesca moved up to within five points of the play-off spots after a 2-1 victory over Sevilla Atlético in the mid-day kick-off, Vadillo and Melero putting the locals two up in a four minute period around the half hour mark, and Soriano putting through his own net late on for the final score. Zaragoza though drop further away from the top six after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Alcorcón, and coach Raúl Agné needs to turn things around quickly if he is to save his job. Owona headed the opener for the locals following a corner with ten minutes to go, but a last minute David Navarro own goal saved a point for the Maños. Mirandés started the day at the foot of the table after Nàstic’s victory on Saturday, but they climbed back up a couple of places after a 1-2 win at fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano. Galán put the locals in front early on in the second half, but strikes by Urko Vera and Sangalli turned the scoreline around, and Rubén Baraja’s side ended with ten men when Diego Aguirre picked up a second booking. (19.02.17)