Second division - day 5

Two of the newly promoted teams Xerez and Burgos kept up the pressure on Atlético Madrid with victories against clubs relegated from the first division. Xerez came from behind to beat Numancia 2-1, keeping up their 100% record at their temporary home the El Palmar stadium. Octavio gave the visitors the lead five minutes before half time, but Pineda scored from the penalty spot just after the restart and then set up the winning goal for Mena a few minutes later. Burgos also recorded their fourth victory of the season, this time 0-2 at Racing Santander. Racing dominated the match, but the visitors defended well and scored twice on breakaways in the second half through Isailovic and Merino. The job of Racing's manager Gustavo Benítez is once again on the line.

At least one of the relegated teams is doing well. Oviedo kept within a point of Xerez and Burgos and two of leaders Atlético Madrid with a narrow 1-0 victory over Eibar. The Basques put up their usual defensive wall from start to finish, but the Asturian side eventually got their just rewards with a goal from Rubén six minutes from time. The top four have opened up a three point gap over four teams, including Racing Ferrol, who's match was called off last night, Albacete, Salamanca and Recreativo. Albacete beat the always difficult Badajoz 2-0 with a goal in each half from Mikel and Jesús Pereda.

Salamanca picked up a point in an exciting 3-3 draw at Murcia. The home side had not scored in six hours of football, but having signed Peternac from Zaragoza, it was one of the old boys Loreto who starred with a hat-trick. It was not enough to give them a first victory though, as the visitors levelled the scores through Nan Ribera (from the penalty spot) and Makakula after Pepe Domingo had given them an early lead. Murcia's Vaqueriza was sent off in the penalty incident. Recreativo also came behind to draw 1-1 at Elche thanks to a late penalty converted by David. Nino opened the scoring for the East coast side, but once again they failed to pick up the three points, and they, Murcia and Leganés have all recorded four draws and one defeat in five games.

Leganés only just made it though, with a penalty from Miguel Angel in the 96th minute securing a 1-1 result at Poli Ejido. Having thrown away a victory in the last minute last week at Ferrol the Andalucian side thought they had got their first win ever in the second division A when Sergio Cruz scored three minutes into injury time. However Vidakovic handled in the area and they had to settle for their second point of the season, which leaves them next to bottom above Nástic, who have a game in hand. Another team from the same area Córdoba are also down near the bottom of the table after losing 1-2 at home to Sporting Gijon. All three goals came in the first half, with Pablo Alvarez and Michel giving the visitors a two goal lead and Manolo pulling one back. (23.09.01)

Atlético Madrid held on to first place with a 2-1 victory over Levante. Correa headed the first from a Stankovic corner, and although Josemi equalised before half time, García Calvo got the winner in the second half, again from a Stankovic dead ball kick.

Extremadura recorded the biggest win in the second division this season, beating Jaén 5-0. Juan Carlos Moreno scored two, his first from the penalty spot, with the others coming from Jorge Pérez, Manuel and David Cortés. The other match scheduled for Saturday between Nástic and Racing Ferrol was called off after 20 minutes after the floodlights failed in a thunderstorm. Nástic were winning 2-0 at the time, with goals from Deus and Pinilla. (22.09.01)