Second division A day 37

Atlético Madrid kept their hopes of promotion alive with a 2-0 victory over leaders Sevilla at the Vicente Calderón stadium. Another 50,000+ crowd turned up to watch their heroes take the lead in the second half through Salva, his twentieth of the season, and Roberto headed a second later on for the final result. The game was marred at the end though by the sending off of Hernández and Salva leaving Atleti with nine men. (12.05.01)

The second division was thrown wide open on Sunday as non of the top three clubs won. Following the defeat of their city rivals Sevilla, third placed Betis were beaten at home 1-2 by Albacete. José gave the visitors the lead in the seventh minute but Denilson equalised for the home side in the second half. However Javi Guerrero put ten men Albacete back in front five minutes later, and they stay sixth, just four points now behind their rivals. Meanwhile Tenerife were being held at home by the 0-0 specialists Eibar. Referee Rubinos Pérez was booed off the pitch by the home fans after he disallowed a goal from Charcos and then sent off Pier.

The crowd scenes at Tenerife were mild though compared to Huelva, where fourth placed Recreativo were held to a 1-1 draw by Levante. Although referee Téllez Sánchez awarded a first minute penalty to the home side which Oscar converted, Levante levelled later in the half through an Alberto free kick. However Téllez turned down other penalty appeals, and when he disallowed Soto's goal for offside two minutes into stoppage time the crowd invaded the pitch.The point does however move them to within two of Betis, and they stay ahead of Atlético Madrid on goal average.

With five games to go any one of the top six is in with a chance of filling the three promotion spots. Seventh placed Sporting do still have an outside chance though after beating Compostela 1-2, although they would probably have to win all their remaining games to do so. They went in to a two goal lead through Alberto and Ledhiakov before Gudelj pulled one back near the end. Their victory opens up a four gap over Córdoba and Salamanca, who cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Marcos Márquez scored for the home side in the first half, with Toedtli replying for the visitors after the interval. Jaén moved up to within a point of both of them after beating struggling Getafe 3-1, with a penalty by Rueda and two more from Pepelu and Carlos Torres. Trigo got the consolation goal for the visitors.

The first issue of the season was decided, with bottom club Lleida being mathematically relegated after losing 1-0 to Badajoz, Leandro getting the only goal in the second half. Universidad Las Palmas are putting up a strong rearguard action though, and they won again, 2-1 against Murcia, to move to within a point of Getafe. Yeray got both their goals, with Loreto equalising briefly before Meloño got sent off.

The three remaining relegation spots look like being disputed between four teams after Racing Ferrol pulled four points clear of Compostela with a 1-0 win over Leganés. Aira got the only goal from the penalty spot after a foul on Razov. Compostela's defeat by Sporting leaves them only a point above the drop zone, with Elche closing up on them after beating Extremadura 3-1. Serban scored two, including a penalty, and although Ismael got one back, also from a penalty, Nino sealed the victory two minutes from the end. (13.05.01)