Second division day 40

Sevilla won the second division championship, and with it promotion to the first division next season, after a hard fought 1-0 victory over rivals Tenerife. The only goal of the match came from Podestá immediately after half time, and they hung on in a nail biting finish after Héctor was sent off in injury time. With two games to go Sevilla are seven points ahead of their city rivals Betis, who hold on to second place a point ahead of Tenerife. Atlético Madrid made it a four horse race for promotion after a fairy tale 0-1 win over Albacete. Seventeen year old Fernando Torres came on for Kiko with fifteen minutes to go and got the only goal of the match moments later. Torres also had a hand in the sending off of Arias and Padilla, both of whom got their marching orders for fouls on the youngster either side of his goal. Atlético move level with Tenerife on 68 points, just behind on goal average.

Recreativo Huelva revived their hopes of promotion with a 2-0 victory over relegation candidates Compostela. Xisco opened the scoring with a quarter of an hour to go from the penalty spot, and Bodipo headed the second in injury time. Both teams had a man sent off, Huelva's Soto in the first half, and Compostela's Pinillos after the break. Recreativo move up to 65 points, three behind Atlético, two ahead of Albacete and three above Sporting Gijon, who beat Badajoz 1-0. The only goal of the game came in the second half from Russia's Ledhiakov.

After having three points docked midweek for fielding too many non-EU players against Compostela, Getafe lost 1-2 to Racing Ferrol and joined Lleida and Universidad Las Palmas in the second division B. The referee had to be escorted off the pitch after awarding a controversial penalty for the visitors with Getafe in the lead. Lleida beat Universidad 4-2 in their match. The last relegation spot looks like being between Compostela and Elche, who lost 3-1 to Jaén. Nano gave Elche the lead, but after Redondo was sent off just before half time, the home side scored three times after the break. Elche ended the game with nine men and are now a point behind Compostela.

Murcia moved out of reach of the bottom clubs with a 1-0 victory over Eibar. The match was played in Alicante after Murcia's ground was closed for one game. Leganés are two points behind them after beating Córdoba 4-0, and only need a point or so to be safe themselves. Extremadura beat Salamanca 1-2 in the other match at the weekend to move level with their opponents in the middle of the table on 56 points. (03.06.01)