Second division, day 11

Real Murcia join Xerez at the top of the table after drawing 1-1 against their city rivals Ciudad Murcia on Sunday lunchtime. Ciudad went ahead in the tenth minute when a clearance by Notario hit his own player Paco Peña and rebounded in to the net, but Aranda equalised for the visitors soon afterwards with a header from Abel's free kick. Salamanca consolidated third place with a 3-0 win over Alavés, Mexican youngster Carlos Vela getting two of the goals, but Valladolid are only two points behind them in fourth spot after a 4-0 win over ten man Castilla.

Tenerife could have joined Valladolid if they had won at Poli Ejido, but in the end they lost an exciting game by 4-2. Ortíz scored twice for the hosts, who move above the Canary Islanders in the table. Down at the other end of the chart Numancia moved out of the bottom four after beating Castellón 2-1, but Ponferradina and Elche did themselves no favours with a 1-1 draw. Finally Cádiz's defeat at Gijón yesterday has had serious repercussions, coach Oli being fired and replaced by José González, who had a previous spell at the club a few years ago. (05.11.06)

Xerez moved back to the top of the table pending the Murcia derby on Sunday after beating bottom club Vecindario 1-0. Mendoza got the only goal midway through the first half, but with Castro Santos on the bench for the first time the Canary Islanders put up a good fight. A new manager as well at Málaga, Juan Ramón López Muñiz starting off with a 2-2 draw at Lorca. All the goals came in the first half, with Isaac and Ramos scoring for the locals and Sandro and Hidalgo replying for the Andalusian side.

The result of the day though was surely Sporting Gijón's 5-4 win over Cádiz. The visitors went two up early on, but the Asturians turned the scoreline around to move up to within a point of the promotion spots. Albacete drop a place to fifth though after losing 0-1 to Hércules, their first defeat at home all season. And Las Palmas beat Almería 3-1 to move to within a point of escaping the drop zone, new signing Trashorras getting two of their goals. (04.11.06)