Second division, day 18

Levante moved to the top of the table after a 2-1 win over Cádiz on Sunday lunchtime. Congo and Reggi scored the goals for the Valencia based side, with Obiorah pulling one back for the visitors, who ended the weekend in fourth spot. Meanwhile Alavés missed out on the chance to move up to the promotion spots when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Leganés.

The goals finally did start to flow though on Sunday evening, with Xerez and Las Palmas leading the charge in an extraordinary 4-4 draw, the home side fighting back after falling three goals behind in the first quarter of an hour. They move out of the relegation zone thanks to a better goal difference over Rayo Vallecano, who threw away a one goal lead in the last five minutes and ended up losing 1-2 to Recreativo Huelva.

Elche's new manager Oscar Ruggeri started off with a win, although his side struggled in the end to beat bottom club Algeciras 3-2. The other two sides in the relegation zone also lost, Málaga B being beaten 3-1 by Ciudad de Murcia, with Turu Flores scoring his first two goals of the season, and Poli Ejido losing 1-3 at home to Salamanca, Raúl Sánchez getting a hat-trick against his old side. (04.01.04)

A low scoring start to the year in the second division, with only three goals in the first four games on Saturday evening. Leaders Numancia were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Getafe, and could lose their top spot to Levante, who play Cádiz on Sunday lunchtime. Getafe ended the day in fifth position. All the other games ended with single goal victories, with Sporting Gijon moving up to third place after a late Pablo Alvarez goal gave them a 0-1 victory over Tenerife.

Eibar moved up to seventh, ahead of their opponents Almería, who lost away from home for the first time this season. Aitor got the only goal on the half hour mark. And Terrassa got their first home win in six months thanks to a goal by David Gallego, who scored on the follow up after a controversial penalty was saved by Córdoba keeper Jauregui. (03.01.04)