Second division - day 15

Atlético Madrid opened up a five point gap at the top with a 0-1 victory over second placed Xerez on Sunday lunchtime. With Diego Alonso on international duty and Fernando Torres not fully fit Correa and Dani lined up in attack for the visitors, and the only goal came after a Correa free kick with a quarter of an hour gone, Aguilera scoring after Luis had pushed out the Uruguayan's shot. The home side did everything they could in the second half, but Atlético shut up shop and played out the remaining minutes to put themselves in a very strong position to return to the top flight next season.

Oviedo moved up to third place with a 3-1 victory over Córdoba, their first win in five games. Geni gave them the lead late in the first half and although Alfonso equalised quickly, Oscar Alvarez headed them back in front after the restart. Pablo Díaz wrapped things up in the last minute, leaving Córdoba down within a point of the relegation spots. Their second manager of the season Crispi may be on his way out this week. Oviedo are a point ahead of Racing Ferrol, who also won their game 3-1 against ten man Salamanca. Palacios, Fran Nogueira and Ismael scored for the home side, with Robert levelling the scores momentarily in the first half.

Last week's third placed side Burgos dropped four places to seventh after losing 0-1 at home to improving Badajoz. The only goal was scored by Molist on the hour mark, giving the side from Extremadura their fourth win in a row under new manager Alhinho. Burgos stay on 23 points, level with Albacete and Recreativo. Albacete picked up a point with a 0-0 draw away at Extremadura, who have not won at home now in four games, and who stay in the bottom four.

Recreativo also drew away, 1-1 at Eibar. Raúl Molina headed his eighth goal of the season on the stroke of half time, taking him level with Diego Alonso, Pineda and Nino at the top of the goalscorers chart. Aldeondo equalised for the home side early in the second half, but then got himself sent off ten minutes from the end for a second bookable offence. Eibar head a group of four sides on 21 points, including Santander, Salamanca and Elche, who came from behind to beat Gimnastic Tarragona 1-2. Deus gave the home side the lead but Nino scored twice, the first from a penalty after a foul by Bernaus and the second after a defensive error to leave Nastic down in next to bottom spot.

They are three points clear though of Poli Ejido, who picked up a point with another 0-0 draw at home to Murcia. The new Leganés manager Carlos Aguiar took his side away from the relegation zone with a much needed 2-1 victory over their direct rivals Levante. They started badly though when Larrea put through his own net when trying to clear a free kick, but came back quickly with an equaliser from Miguel Angel only four minutes later. Gámiz scored the winner from a free kick with an hour gone to leave their opponents five points behind them in twentieth place. (18.11.01)

Racing Santander showed that they can still be considered candidates for promotion with a convincing 4-0 win over Numancia. A mistake by keeper Jonathan let through Pablo Sierra's long shot for the opener and Bodipo added a second with only a quarter of an hour gone. Racing scored twice more in the second half, the first a Mateo and shot and then an Ismael penalty after Cuéllar pulled back Bodipo, to take their Quique Setién's side up near the top spots.

A high scoring match at Jaén, where the home side threw away a three goal lead to end up drawing 3-3 with Sporting Gijon. Two from Pepelu and another in between from Milosevic gave the Andalucian side what looked like an unasailable lead five minutes in to the second half, but goals by David Pirri, Soto and Michel saved a point for the Asturians. (17.11.01)