Second division - day 7

Salamanca ended the weekend back at the top of the table after beating Eibar 2-0 in the last match on Sunday evening. Quique Martín got both goals, the second from a late penalty, to take his side a point above Hércules, Tenerife and Rayo Vallecano. Tenerife themselves won 0-1 at Albacete, Cristo Marrero getting the only goal a quarter of an hour from the end to take the Canary Islanders up to third. And Rayo Vallecano came from a goal down to beat Castellón 4-2, with substitute Jesús Perera scoring twice to ensure the victory.

Levante could have joined the trio had it not been for a late goal by Girona in a 1-1 draw between the two sides. A Parri penalty gave the Valencia based team the lead, and local keeper Reina saved two more spot kicks before Chechu finally beat him late on. Elsewhere the match between Códoba and Gimnàstic ended without goals to leave both teams safely in mid-table. And Elche and Celta also drew 1-1, a result which cost the job of local coach David Vidal, who was fired soon after the game ended. Vidal was the second manager of the night to fall after Alicante's José Carlos Granero was also given the sack. (12.10.08)

Hércules are two points clear of the pack pending Sunday's games after a 0-0 draw at Murcia on Saturday evening. Despite the result both sides created several chances, but keepers Calatayud and Elía held fast. There was a goal-less draw as well between Real Sociedad and Xerez, a result which leaves the Andalusians in fourth place, and their opponents a point behind them in the table. Las Palmas are themselves just a point behind Real after a 2-0 victory over Sevilla Atlético, Marcos Márquez getting both the goals after the break.

As things stand at the moment though, only three points separate sixteen teams in what is proving to be another very close season. The other two promotion spots are currently occupied though by the two clubs from Aragón, with Huesca in second place after a 1-3 win at Alicante, and their bigger neighbours Zaragoza third after beating Alavés 4-2. Oliveira scored twice for Marcelino's side early on, but a couple from Garitano left the result in the balance until Caffa got the fourth with a well struck free kick. (11.10.08)