Second division, week 23

Sporting Gijon's young side took another step closer to promotion with a 2-0 win over Alavés on Sunday lunchtime, the goals coming from Christian Díaz and Pablo Alvarez. The Asturians moved seven points clear of third placed Numancia, who were only able to draw 0-0 at home to Salamanca. Meanwhile Getafe took advantage of slip ups by the teams above them to move up to fifth after a 0-1 win at Almería. Only three points now separate five sides fighting for the last promotion spot.

The struggle to avoid relegation is also getting tighter every week, and twelfth placed Córdoba, who won 1-2 at Ciudad Murcia, are only four points above nineteenth placed Poli Ejido, who dropped back into the bottom four after losing 2-0 at Terrassa. Rayo Vallecano move back out of the relegation zone after beating Xerez 2-1, but the bottom two Tenerife and Algeciras did themselves no favours with a 0-0 draw. (08.02.04)

Second placed Levante were beaten 1-0 by neighbours Elche, who move up to within four points of the promotion spots as a result. The only goal came from a Moisés free kick in the second half. Fourth placed Eibar were held 1-1 by Recreativo Huelva, not enough to take them above Numancia, and Cádiz also failed to return to the top three after losing 0-1 at home to Málaga B. Elsewhere Las Palmas moved away from the danger zone with a 0-2 win at Leganés, their new keeper Gato Sessa saving a late penalty on his debut. (07.02.04)