Sevilla extended their lead at the top of the second division with a 3-0 victory over Extremadura. Defender Héctor scored two goals in a three minute period in the first half and Víctor added a third after the break to take them up to 40 points, four ahead of neighbours Betis, who drew 1-1 at Recreativo. Capi gave them the lead on the break, but Xisco equalised near the end to take Recreativo up a place to fourth. Tenerife could only draw against nine man Lleida and slipped further behind the leaders in third place. Even then it took a last minute goal from Luis Gil to save a point against the Catalans, who stay next to bottom in the table.

In all there were no less than seven low scoring draws, with the games between Jaén and Compostela, Elche and Mucia, and Leganés and Universidad Las Palmas also ending 1-1, and Albacete vs Córdoba and Levante vs Racing Ferrol goalless. Salamanca lost an opportunity to move up to the top spots, falling 0-2 at home to Eibar, and Badajoz saw their good run come to an end losing 2-1 at Getafe. Atlético Madrid lost their first game in a month 1-0 at Sporting and drop back down the table. Hernández was sent off for the fourth time this season and Sporting's Ledhiakov follwed shortly afterwards. Soto scored for the home side twelve minutes from time. (14.01.01)