Second division, day 9

Poli Ejido were unable to catch leaders Xerez after being held to a 1-1 at Recreativo, although they do stay in second place, a point ahead of Eibar. The home side started the day in the relegation spots, and although Moreno gave them the lead in the tenth minute, Toedtli equalised soon afterwards. Fourth placed Racing Ferrol came from a goal down to draw by the same result against on-form Cádiz, who stay a point behind them as a result. Flavio saved a point for the Galicians after Oli had put the visitors ahead. Alavés are back up to fifth after thrashing Terrassa 4-1 on Sunday lunchtime, with three goals coming in the first half. The Catalans played the last half hour with left back Nené in goal after keeper Morales was sent off with all substitutions made.

The three teams relegated last season continued with their disappointing form, with all of them involved in 0-0 draws this weekend. Celta could only share the points with Málaga B, their fourth home draw in a row, and they drop in to the bottom half of the table. Valladolid's score-less game at Almería means they have now gone, seven games without a win, and they find themselves just above the relegation zone thanks to a slightly better goal average than Nàstic. And Real Murcia's first win of the season last weekend seems to have been a flash in the pan, their 0-0 result at home to Salamanca putting the pressure back on manager Manolo Preciado. They do at least move off the bottom of the table though, that honour falling to Córdoba after they threw away a one goal lead to lose 3-1 at Sporting Gijón. (24.10.04)

Xerez moved back to the top of the table pending Poli Ejido's game on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Pontevedra on Saturday evening. The only goal came from Raúl Molina, who intercepted a bad back pass to score a quarter of an hour in. Eibar moved up to third after beating struggling Ciudad Murcia 3-2. The Basque side were three up within half an hour, but two late goals from Güiza closed the gap in the end. Elche missed out once again on a chance to move back in to the top three after they were beaten 2-0 by Nàstic, a result which takes the Catalans out of the relegation zone. And Lleida and Tenerife cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, both goals coming late in the match. (23.10.04)