Atlético Madrid defeated Betis 2-1 in the match of the day on Sunday to keep up their outside hope of promotion to the first division. Aguiler and Arzu took the score to 1-1 at half time, but an individualist goal by Dani in the second half gave Atleti the three points. They move up to sixth, still seven points away from the promotion spots but rising higher every day. Betis stay second but their first defeat in thirteen games means they lose ground on their city rivals, leaders Sevilla. A Nico Olivera hat trick, which included two penalties, helped them to a 4-2 victory over Leganés to take them four points clear. Olivera is now the league's top scorer with 12 goals.

Third placed Tenerife were held to a 1-1 draw by fifth placed Recreativo Huelva on Saturday evening, despite playing against ten men for half the match. Lussenhoff saved them a point in the second half after Camacho's early goal for the visitors.

The slip up by the two teams above them gave fourth placed Salamanca an opportunity to go above them, but they weren't up to the task, losing 1-2 at home to Albacete, who are now seventh. Badajoz move to a point behind them after they hung on against Racing Ferrol to win 1-0.

The bottom four all drew, with the only goals coming at Lleida, who drew 1-1 with Elche. The other three all drew 0-0, Compostela at Córdoba, Getafe at Eibar, and Universidad Las Palmas at home to Jaén.

At least there were higher scores in the other two matches, with Murcia winning 5-0 against Sporting, all the goals coming in the last quarter of the game with a couple from Loreto, and Extremadura winning their second game in a row against promotion hopefuls Levante by 2-1. (25.02.01)