With all second division sides in action midweek in the new look (and some say half-baked) cup, no less than six of the opening games of the season were brought forward to Saturday. Tenerife got off to a good start with a 3-1 win over Gimnastic Tarragona, taking them joint top of the table pending Sunday's games. The Canary Island side went behind early on though, Abel Buades heading the Catalans into the lead. But five minutes later they were level when ex Celta midfielder Toni Moral beat Valencia, and a few minutes after that Maikel gave the hosts the lead with a low shot. Cristian Alvarez made it three just a minute before the interval, and although Keleman was forced to make some important saves and Bolo hit the crossbar in the second half, there was no way back for the visitors.

Ciudad Murcia share the lead with Tenerife after they beat Recreativo Huelva by the same 3-1 scoreline. They too started off behind though, Aitor taking advantage of a bad clearance by José Juan to open the scoring. But Luque equalised a couple of minutes later from the penalty spot, and on the half hour mark he put his side in front with a long shot following a free kick. Visiting keeper Luque kept out an effort from Swedish striker Goitom after the break, but Córdoba made it three near the end after Luque could only push out Rivero's free kick.

Levante are hoping to bounce back after being relegated last season, and they got off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Poli Ejido. The Valencia based side dominated the game from start to finish, and took the lead in the twelfth minute when new boy Coutois beat Bello Amigo following a corner. The keeper saved well from Riga soon afterwards and Reggi hit the bar before the break, but after a long period of pressure in the second half, Reggi wrapped thigs up after getting on the end of a cross from substitute Ettien.

Albacete were less fortunate though, and they started their campaign in the second division with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sporting Gijón. With a team packed full of youngsters the Asturians put their financial crisis behind them, Pablo Alvarez giving them a best possible start when he transformed a penalty after Santi had fouled Calandria. And Alvarez headed his second of the night past Sanzol from Juan's cross midway through the first half to give his side an unassailable lead. After that keeper Roberto did the rest with saves from Aranda and Ferrón amongst others, and Alvarez just missed out on his hat-trick when he hit the bar twice after the interval.

A defeat too for the newly promoted Real Madrid B (recently returning to their old name of Real Madrid Castilla), Luis Alcaraz's Xerez finally running out 2-1 victors thanks to a late goal from Dani Pendin. The Andalusians took the lead with a Pedro Ríos penalty after Rubén brought down Guille, but Soldado head the equaliser a few minutes later. Local keeper Julio Iglesias kept out efforts from Soldado, Balboa and Valero, but Madrid were left with ten men after Palencia picked up a second booking, and soon afterwards Pendin picked up a pass from Geijo to poke home the winner.

Lorca started off their first ever season in the "división de plata" with a 1-1 draw against Racing Ferrol. The Murcia based side were only formed in three years ago when two local teams merged (one of whom, Lorca Deportivo did have one season in the second division 21 years ago), and new manager Unai Emery drafted in several of the twelve new signings they had made in the close season. There was little action though until the second half, when Carlos got on the end of a cross from the left to head the visitors in front. However Perona made it all square with a free kick ten minutes from the end to earn his side their first point. (27.08.05)

Elche beat Eibar 1-2 on Sunday lunchtime to join the leader group at the top of the table. The home side had as usual had to change their on loan squad completely after their brush with promotion last season, and they went behind on the stroke of half time when Alfredo beat Zubikarai. Nené and Markel came close to equalising after the interval, but a wayward shot from Raúl Martín ballooned off defender Jon Moya over the head of the keeper for Elche's second, and Mairata's consolation goal in injury time came too late to alter the result. (28.08.05)

Numancia top the table after the first weekend, their 3-0 victory over Almería on Sunday evening taking them above Tenerife and Ciudad Murcia. Although the first chance of the match fell to visiting striker Luna, Moreno brought a good save out of Valerio before Jordi Navas opened the scoring with a shot which took a deflection off Carlos García to wrong foot the keeper. Tevenet headed a second from Del Pino's cross before the break, and despite a double change by Paco Flores at the break, Juan Carlos Moreno took advantage of slack defending to add a third around the hour mark.

Another of the promotion favourites Valladolid beat Real Murcia 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Víctor. The veteran striker headed his side into the lead from Sousa's cross on the quarter hour mark, but after that the locals were pegged back and Iván Alonso and Richi both should have equalised early in the second half. Murcia were left with ten men though when Corona was sent off for a foul on Carmona, and Sousa and Aduriz both wasted chances to add a second goal later on.

Lleida join the teams on three points with a 1-0 victory over newly promoted Castellón despite playing for half an hour with ten men after Unai was sent off on his debut for a hard tackle on Epitié. Sergio tested the visiting keeper early on, and t was his free kick which set up Nakor to head what was to be the only goal later in the first half. Edu kept out efforts from Epitié and Héctor towards the end as the visitors pressed home their numerical advantage, but Nakor could have increased the lead had he found the target in the dying minutes.

Another of the new boys Hércules could only draw 1-1 against Málaga B, visiting keeper Javi Muñoz saving a last minute penalty to earn his side a point. The Alicante based side went ahead midway through the first half when Lupidio beat Muñoz with a shot from outside of the area, but Málaga's new signing Juan Diego Vigil got on the end of Diego Castro's pass to make it all square three minutes before the interval. Both sides had chances after the restart before Jesús Gámez handled in the area near the end, but Muñoz guessed correctly to keep out Miguel's spot kick. (28.08.05)