Clubs from Andalucia occupy the top four spots of the second division after today's results. Leaders Sevilla keep top spot despite losing their first match of the season against Sporting Gijon by 3-0. Russia's Tcheryshev opened the scoring for the Asturian side, and they added two more through Sánchez Jara and Soto after Sevilla were reduced to nine men in the second half following the sending off of Taira and Fredi. Second placed Jaén could only draw 0-0 against Extremadura, and Córdoba took advantage to move ahead of them on goal average with a 0-2 victory at Racing Ferrol, with a goal in each half from Tena and Manolo. Third placed Levante were beaten by an improving Murcia, who have now taken ten points in their last four games since appointing new manager Pep Mel. The home side were winning 2-1 until they had two men sent off just before half time, and Murcia got the winner in the last minute. The 2-3 result means that the Valencia based side drop to sixth, with Murcia moving up to a place and a point behind them. With Sevilla and Levante losing, Recreativo Huelva are now the only unbeaten side in the league, quite a feat for a team who only kept their place in the league thanks to the bankruptcy of Mérida. They got their best result of the season, a 3-0 victory against Eibar, with two goals from David, and move up to fourth.

Tenerife also staked their claim for promotion with a 0-2 away win against a struggling Compostela side who have yet to win at home. Luis García and Barata got the goals for the Canary Islanders, who move up to fifth, a point behind Recreativo. Elche and Leganés did themselves no favours drawing 1-1, and they both drop down to mid table in eighth and ninth place respectively. Salamanca moved level with Leganés after winning 1-2 at next to bottom club Getafe with goals from Munteanu and Quique Martín in the last ten minutes, and after a bad start to the season they are finally starting to string together some results. Albacete also won 2-1 against Lleida to take them clear of the relegation zone and plunge the Catalan side further into the bottom spots.

Betis are another of the pre-season favourites to get off to a bad start, but they recorded their second win of the season, 2-0 against bottom club Universidad Las Palmas, with a goal from ex Mallorca and Glasgow Rangers striker Amato. Universidad are the only club without a win, and already look like relegation fodder. And so last but not least on to Atlético Madrid, who have finally lifted themselves out of the relegation spots with a laboured 0-0 draw at Badajoz. New manager Marcos Alonso has changed the side around a bit, playing three central defenders and two wing backs, but they have still to prove that they can adapt to this level. The match was soporific, with the only bright spot being a 30 metre shot from second half substitute Kiko against the crossbar late in the game. Off the field of play club president Jesus Gil was absolved of fraud but found guilty of other misdemeanours related to the transfer of funds from the local council of Marbella (where he is mayor) to Atlético Madrid (where he is president and majority shareholder). He was banned from holding public office for 28 years, but still saw the decision as a victory. In any case, he will now appeal, a process which will take around two years and will enable him to serve out his term as mayor.