Second division - day 8

Hércules and Elche drew 0-0 in their local derby on Sunday lunchtime, a result which took the home side back up into the promotion spots. It was good start though for Elche's new coach Claudio Barragán, who took over after David Vidal was fired midweek. Rayo Vallecano failed to return to the top three though after they lost 3-1 to Gimnàstic. Aganzo gave them an early lead, but Víctor equalised soon afterwards and goals near the end from Redondo and Jandro won it for the Catalans.

It was Rayo's first defeat of the season, and Hércules are now the only unbeaten side after Huesca lost 1-2 to Albacete. Diego Costa and Merino put the visitors two up with only half an hour gone, and Roberto got one back at the start of the second half. Meanwhile Eibar pulled away from the danger zone with a 1-0 victory over Córdoba, a first half Txiki penalty enough to take the Basque side above their opponents in the table. (19.10.08)

Salamanca stay in top spot after coming from behind on Saturday evening to beat third placed Tenerife 2-3. Quique Martín gave the visitors an early lead, but goals by Nino and Juanlu in a two minute period midway through the first half turned the scoreline in favour of the Canary Islanders. Azkorra equalised again before the break though, and Quique Martín won it with a second half penalty. Zaragoza are up to second pending Sunday's games after thrashing Sevilla Atlético 0-4. Oliveira and Gabi put Marcelino's team two up at the break, and Arizmendi and Oliveira added two more after the restart.

Xerez are level with Zaragoza in third spot after beating Las Palmas 1-0, Carlos Calvo getting the only goal shortly before half time. And Castellón are just two points off the promotion spots after a 4-1 victory over local rivals Levante. Perico opened the scoring in only the second minute, and Emilio N'Sue scored two either side of half time to put the locals three up. Pedro Vega got one back, but Dani Pendín rounded things off near the end. Real Sociedad are slipping further away from the top three though after drawing 0-0 at Girona, the fifth time they have shared the points this season.

Lots of goals and drama down at the bottom of the table, where Murcia drop further down into the relegation spots after losing 4-1 to Alavés. Despotovic had given Javier Clemente's side the lead early in the second half, but Lillo got himself sent off, and strikes by Guerra, Pedraza, Emilio Sánchez and Toni Moral left Clemente's job hanging by a thread. Elsewhere Celta and Alicante cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw, a result which enabled the Galicians to inch out of the relegation zone above Sevilla Atlético. Renan put Pepe Murcía's side ahead on the hour mark, but goals by Azkoitia and Francisco appeared to have given caretaker coach Garitano a first win before Ghilas popped up in injury time to save a point for the locals. (18.10.08)