Second division, day 6

The third and second placed teams Murcia and Terrassa played out a goalless draw which left David Vidal's side out of the promotion spots and Xerez still in first place. The visitors hardly left their own half throughout the match, and were fortunate when the referee ruled out a Carrero strike just before half time for a previous foul. The Catalans ended with ten men when Jubera was sent off with twenty minutes to go.

Levante took advantage of the slips by the teams above them to move up to second place, a point behind Xerez. Their 4-0 victory over Badajoz makes them the second division's top scorers and a firm candidate for promotion. With Mijatovic on international duty Congo got his chance, and after winning an early penalty which Amato converted, the ex Real Madrid striker scored two goals himself just before the break. Substitute Chota made it four near the end.

Albacete are in fourth spot, a point behind Levante and Terrassa, after they too won 4-0 against Sporting Gijon. Munteanu gave them the lead before half time, and Jesús Perera, Parri and Duré added three more after the break. Antonio Maceda was in charge of the visitors for the first time after he replaced Rodri as manager midweek, but he obviously has work to do. Sporting are next to bottom, and have still only scored one goal all season.

Getafe moved up to seventh place after an extraordinary 3-4 win at Oviedo. It was a topsy-turvy match, with the home side turning round a two goal deficit and then losing thanks to two own goals. Luis López and Mario gave the Madrid based side the lead midway through the first half, but Engonga pulled one back from the penalty spot soon afterwards. Oviedo were left with ten men when Raúl was sent off, but Losada and Oli put them ahead before half time. However own goals by Iban Pérez and Javi Paredes left the Asturians down in the bottom four, without a home win since last March.

The league looks like being another close run competition, with four points separating the first eleven sides. Tenerife moved up into the top half of the table after a narrow 1-0 victory over an ultra-defensive Eibar. The only goal came from Paunovic in the first half, his second important goal in successive matches.

Zaragoza put in another disappointing performance, drawing 0-0 at Compostela, and they ended the day down in fifteenth spot just two points above the drop zone. The heavy rain over the last few days made playing conditions difficult, but it was the newly promoted home side who adapted better. Visiting keeper Lainez was forced to make a series of good saves to keep his side in the game, and only a late header from substitute Yordi caused any problems for Tito in the Gallician goal.

Salamanca dropped into the relegation zone after losing 1-3 to an improving Elche. The locals took the lead when the referee ruled that Velasco had handled in the area, Zegarra converting the penalty. However they fell apart in the second half, and the visitors came back with three goals in under a quarter of an hour, two from Serrano and another from Nino. Home team manger Balta offered his resignation to the board after the game.

Bottom club Almería picked up a valuable point with a 1-1 draw at Racing Ferrol. The home side dominated the match and Pezzarossi hit the post midway through the first half. However a wayward cross from Francisco caught De Navas out on the stroke of half time to give the visitors an undeserved lead. Cuéllar made it all square though from Pablo's corner in the second half, and Almería's Estéban was sent off a couple of minutes later for a heavy tackle on Graieb.

A 1-1 draw as well between Córdoba and Numancia, the Andalucians first point in four games. The Soria based side took the lead against the run of play just before half time when Marini followed up after Manolo's shot was blocked. López Ramos and Pato both hit the woodwork after the break for the home team before Ramón finally saved the day with a last minute equaliser. (13.10.02)

Leaders Xerez lost their first match of the season, falling 2-0 at Poli Ejido. Ex Osasuna striker Sabino gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half time, chesting down a long free kick from Angel Rodríguez before turning to beat Mora. Rodríguez was sent off ten minutes after the break for a second bookable offence, but Poschner made it two from the penalty spot a few minutes later after Jesule brought down Sierra.

Las Palmas kept up their unbeaten record after drawing 1-1 at Leganés. The Canary Islanders went ahead in the first minute when Monteagudo headed on a free kick, and should have extended their lead before the break. However they allowed their opponents back into the game in the second half, despite having a man extra when Lawal got himself sent off just short of the hour mark, and Sivori beat Bo Andersen a few minutes later to square the match. (12.10,02)