Second Division - Day 35

Although the top two have distanced themselves from the rest, the battle for the four play-off spots is very tight this season, with several clubs vying for postion. Two of those met on Friday evening, Oviedo holding on to sixth spot after a 1-1 draw against the team immediately below them Huesca, who had closed in on the top six after ten games without defeat. David Costas headed the locals in front from a Susaeta cross with half an hour on the clock, but some ten minutes in to the second half Christian Fernández was sent off for a foul on Alexander González, and a few minutes later Carlos David headed the equalizer from a wide David Ferreiro free kick. The Asturians could still have won it though had Sergio Herrera not saved a late Toché penalty after Johanneson was brought down in the area. (21.04.17)

Neither of the top two were able to win on Saturday, although leaders Levante are a step closer to promotion after a 1-1 draw at fifth placed Cádiz. Visiting keeper Raúl Fernández had to make a couple of saves early on, but the Valencia based team took the lead with a hotly disputed Roger penalty after the referee ruled that Sankaré had handled in the area shortly before the break. Salvi levelled the scores however after a shot from Aketxe came back off the bar some ten minutes in to the second half, and the Andalusians felt themselves unlucky not to take the three points after Garrido had a header cleared off the line, and Sankaré had a good penalty appeal turned down later on. Levante are now twelve points clear of second placed Girona though after the Catalans were beaten 1-2 by UCAM Murcia later in the evening. Borja García set up Portu to open the scoring for the locals in the twelfth minute, but Jona made it all square a few minutes later after Bounou saved his first effort, and Pere Milla beat the keeper again midway through the second half to take the university side five points clear of the drop zone. Both teams ended the game with ten men after Juande and Aday were sent off in the dying minutes for second bookable offences.

Girona still have a seven point margin over third place however, at least pending Tenerife’s match on Sunday, after Getafe were held to a 1-1 draw by Nàstic. Portillo got on the end of a Jorge Molina cross to give the Madrid based team the lead midway through the first half, but just a minute after the restart Emaná fired home the equalizer to extend his side’s unbeaten run away from home to five games. Valladolid are now just four points away from the top six after they beat Elche 2-1 in the first game of the afternoon, a result which saved the head of coach Paco Herrera for another week at least. De Tomás got on the end of Espinoza’s cross to put the locals in front in the eighth minute, but Borja Valle levelled the scores just two minutes later with an impressive shot, and a draw seemed to be on the cards until José Arnáiz connected with Balbi’s centre to score the winner in the dying minutes, Lugo drop a point below Valladolid though after they were beaten 2-0 by Rayo Vallecano, who themselves are now seven points clear of the drop zone. Javi Guerra got the opener from the penalty spot after Lass was fouled in the area some twenty minutes in to the second half, and Manucho wrapped things up after Lass set him up with twelve minutes to go. (22.04.17)

A curious weekend, with none of the top seven clubs able to win. Tenerife were the only ones to play on Sunday though, and they stay seven points below Girona in third place after a 1-1 draw at Numancia. Lozano gave the Canary Islanders the lead when he headed an Aarón Ñíguez cross past Aitor Fernández midway through the second half. However with the game in injury time Dani Calvo headed in an Iñigo Pérez free kick to save a point for the hosts. Zaragoza were one of the teams to take advantage of the slip-ups by the sides above them, a 0-1 victory at Mirandés taking them up to within seven points of the play-off spots. Angel got the only goal on the quarter hour mark to leave Pablo Alfaro’s side at the bottom of the table, a point below Mallorca, who are also in trouble after a 1-1 draw at home to Córdoba. Lago Junior put the islanders in front in the tenth minute, but Pedro Ríos connected with Galán’s cross to level the scores soon afterwards, and visiting keeper Kieszek made a string of saves after that to give the Andalusians their first point away from home since the start of the new year. Sergi Barjuán’s side remain four points below Alcorcón, who drew 0-0 at Reus, and Almería stay in the relegation spots as well despite a 2-1 victory over regional neighbours Sevilla Atlético, goals by Kalu Uche and Fidel putting the locals two up before Carrillo headed a late consolation for the youngsters near the end. With seven games to go however the relegation battle is as close as ever, and only five points separate Almería from twelfth placed Numancia. (23.04.17)