Second division, day 9

A 0-2 victory by Murcia at Elche on Sunday lunchtime took David Vidal's side back up to second place and bumped Levante out of the top three. Tito put them in front from the penalty spot in the second half after Raúl Pérez handled in the area, and Loreto added a second goal later on. The result leaves Elche down in midtable, six points off the top three.

Salamanca also won by the same 0-2 scoreline at Leganés, consolidating their recovery under new manager Jorge D'Alessandro. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Roberto headed in Quique Martín's cross from close up, and substitute Vucko made it two on a quick breakaway twenty minutes from the end. Gorka Pintado was sent off for the locals late on.

Tenerife find themselves down in the bottom half of the table after losing 1-0 to Numancia. the Canary Islanders hardly managed a shot at goal, and after wasting several chances, defender Carlos Cuéllar scored to give the Soria based side the three points.

Almería were hit by a goal in the last minutes for the fourth time at home this season, and ended up drawing 1-1 to Getafe. The home side took the lead ten minutes before half time through Juanlu, but in the last minute Tena forced the ball past Barbero to save a point. Getafe's Juan was sent off right at the end.

Relegation candidates Sporting Gijon and Córdoba played out another dull 0-0 draw, taking them both further away from safety. Sporting have only scored two goals this season, although the point did at least take them off the bottom of the table above their Asturian neighbours Oviedo. (03.11.02)

The top two teams in the second division Xerez and Levante clashed on Saturday evening, with the home side running out 2-1 winners to move three points clear of their rivals. Calle headed the home side into the lead ten minutes before the break, but Félix levelled the scores on the stroke of half time, heading home a corner from Mijatovic. Olías was sent off for the visitors after the break, and Schuster's side wrapped things up with another Calle header.

Terrassa came from behind to record their first win in five games, a 2-1 victory over Compostela. Sequeiros opened the scoring for the visitors in the second minute the game, but Keko equalised later in the first half. Visiting keeper Tito missed a long cross in the second half allowing Monty to run through and score what was to prove the winner, and the home side ended with ten men after Besora was sent off.

Third placed Albacete lost the opportunity to move closer to the top spots after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poli Ejido. Paco Peña gave the home side the lead in the twelfth minute, and substitute David Prats made it all square on the stroke of half time only two minutes after coming on. Poli closed the game down in the second half to save a point which keeps them just behind their rivals.

Oviedo's new manager Villamil could do nothing to stop the rot as his side lost 2-1 at Eibar. Things went well at first when Fran beat Riesgo with a well struck free kick. However Jorge Sánchez equalised, and after visiting keeper Jonathan was sent off, Alex scrambled the ball into the net to give the locals the three points.

A first minute goal by Molist was enough to give Badajoz a 1-0 victory over Racing Ferrol. Salir headed just wide from Cuéllar's free kick and Gorka cleared off the line from Raúl López as the visitors came looking for the equaliser, but Badajoz held their lines to move up to eighth in the table.

Zaragoza continued their rise up the table with a 0-1 victory at Las Palmas late on Saturday evening, and they are now in seventh place only two points off the promotion spots. Paco Flores' side went close to taking the lead through Yordi and Galletti early on. Baiano though hit the crossbar for the Canary Islanders before Yordi hit the winner midway through the second half . (02.11.02)