Second division - day 18

Atlético Madrid could only draw 0-0 at home to Oviedo on Sunday lunchtime, but still maintain their five point lead at the top of the second division. The first half belonged to the visitors, with Burgos saving well from Oli early on and Oscar Pérez going close a couple of times. Atlético's only reply was a Stankovic free kick which Esteban stopped just before half time. Both sides settled for the draw as the second half wore on, with Aragonés taking off his two strikers Fernando Torres and Diego Alonso to bring on two midfield players, and the 55,000 supporters went home somewhat frustrated.

It was a weekend full of draws, with seven of the eleven games ending all square including matches involving the top seven clubs. Bernd Schuster's Xerez drew 1-1 at Salamanca to stay in second place, still six points above Oviedo. Pineda gave them an early lead from Mena's pass, his ninth goal of the season, and they looked to be in a good position when the home side's Raúl Gañan got himself sent off for a second bookable offence soon after. However Robert made it all square, and Moreno missed an easy chance for the visitors after the break. Recreativo lost out on a chance to move into the top three with a 0-0 draw against struggling Levante in their last game at the old Columbino stadium before moving on to their new home. The visitors played over half the match with ten men after Roa was shown a second yellow card.

The winners of the day were Albacete and Badajoz, who both recorded victories to move up to within two points of Oviedo. Albacete beat Jaén 4-0 in a match which was stopped twice due to floodlight failure. All four goals came in the second half, with Duré hitting a superb shot from outside of the area and Basti putting the lights out literally with the second goal. José and Duré again added two more when someone put a hundred pesetas in the meter. Badajoz made it a record breaking seven wins in a row, beating Racing Ferrol 2-1. Only just though, with Bracamonte hitting the winner in the third minute of injury time after Fran Nogueira had equalised Molist's earlier strike. Earlier in the game Badajoz keeper Baines saved a penalty from Uriz after Xavi Moro had handled in the area.

Poli Ejido won the relegation battle with Gimnastic Tarragona thanks to a single goal from Sergio Cruz in the second half. It was Ejido's first win at home since being promoted in the summer, and only their second of the season. Nàstic drop down to next to bottom, only three points above their opponents, not a good result given that they are taking on Real Madrid in the Spanish cup next Wednesday. Extremadura are also in trouble after losing 2-1 to Murcia, who fired manager Pedro Braojos during the week. Godino gave the home side the lead, their first goal in four games, and set up Loreto for the second before the break. Jesus pulled one back for the visitors after the restart, but the home side held on to give their new boss Chato González a good start.

Extremadura stay in nineteenth place, and are now two points adrift of Leganés, who drew 1-1 at Sporting Gijon. The home side were reduced to ten men when keeper Valencia was sent off for handling outside the area in the third minute, and Gámiz put the visitors ahead with a volley from outside of the area soon afterwards. However Dani Borreguero equalised with a shot through a crowded goalmouth later in the half, and they hung on for a point despite ending with nine players after Lozano also got his marching orders in the second half. Numancia and Eibar are only two points above Leganés after they cancelled each other out in another 1-1 draw. Antonio López, on loan from Valladolid, scored his first goal for his new club directly from a free kick in the second half, but Cabrejo equalised for the visitors five minutes later. (9.12.01)

Racing Santander and Burgos both lost the chance to move up to third in the table in the two games played on Saturday. Racing came from behind to draw 1-1 at Elche, who took the lead through Israel on the hour mark. Bodipo equalised from close range a few minutes later to keep up the Cantabrians eight game unbeaten record. Burgos drew at Córdoba by the same score, again with both goals coming in the last 45 minutes. Lawal put the home side in front, but Zubizarreta levelled things up midway through the second half. (08.12.01)