After seven matches, Elche and Villarreal remain in the automatic promotion places. Both clubs posted fine home wins on Saturday--the illicitanos welcomed Recreativo Huelva and their ridiculous 'Minnie Mouse' away kit, and put away the match in the first 30 minutes with three goals en route to a 3-0 win. Coro now has three goals from seven matches (he scored 18 for Girona last year).
Speaking of Girona, they just don't lose at home. Not many were in attendance on an extremely wet day, but those who did make it to the Montilivi saw the home side put away the game in the first 22 minutes with three goals, two of them coming from corners. Sporting were coming off a nice home win against Alcorcon but it's back to the drawing board for coach Manolo Sánchez after this one.
Down the road in Sabadell, the home side left it late, but Mexican striker (and ex-Chivas Guadalajara player) Ulises Davila came on as a sub in the 83rd minute and scored in the 85th to defeat the Spanish Guadalajara, 2-1. The game was played in torrential rain and the first Sabadell goal came from a penalty that shouldn't have been whistled in my view, but hey. Guadalajara, as usual, tried their best and didn't roll over, but they are already four points adrift at the bottom of the table and going down fast.
Villarreal looked a completely different side from the one that lucked out in the Canaries last week; but even so, ineffectiveness in front of goal threatened to deny them a victory. Then a Pandiani shot was spilled by the keeper right to Hernan Pérez, and Uche added a second in injury time. Villarreal played with authority and tempo and looked impressive, while the visitors struggled to create anything of importance. Perhaps Villarreal loanee Joselu could have helped, but he wasn't allowed to play against the team that owns him.
Almeria couldn't find the net for the first time this season at home in a 0-0 draw with Herculés. The Alicante team has given their coach Juan Mandiá a couple of more weeks to turn things around, or join Spain's lengthy unemployment lines. They do have some home matches coming up against Guadalajara and Xerez, if the coach can make it to that point maybe he can survive.
Good away wins for Ponferradina (2-1 against RM Castilla via an own goal in injury time) and Real Murcia (3-0 over a Xerez club that is struggling at home) to move those teams up the table.
And Carlos Bocanegra's Racing Santander could only draw 1-1 at home despite dominating Numancia for most of the game. When a ball is fired against a player from point-blank range in the area and it hits his arm, should it bring a penalty? Referee Santiago Latre thought so, and Nagore scored from the spot to cancel out Racing's early goal.
Other results:
Barcelona B 1-1 Las Palmas
Alcorcón 1-0 Huesca
Lugo 2-0 Mirandés