Second division, day 21

Second placed Recreativo closed the gap on Xerez to three points after beating Hércules 1-0 on Sunday evening, Gastón Casas getting the only goal midway through the first half. They remain six points ahead of three sides, including Valladolid who held on to third spot after beating promotion rivals Elche 0-2 earlier in the day. Llorente and Alvaro scored for Marcos Alonso's side in the first half of the match. Almería moved back up to fifth, just behind Levante, after ending Castellón's winning run with a 2-1 victory. Jaime put the locals ahead just before the interval, and although Jonan García equalised after the restart, Soriano restored the lead a minute later.

Nàstic moved up to seventh spot after beating Ciudad Murcia 2-0, and Lorca are just a point and a place behind them after a 2-3 victory at Poli Ejido. Castellón and Ejido ended the weekend down in the relegation zone, but at the midpoint of the season things are still very tight, with just one point separating five sides. Numancia climbed out of the bottom four though after drawing 1-1 at Castilla, and Racing Ferrol are now three points clear after beating struggling Eibar 4-0. (22.01.06)

Leaders Xerez were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom club Málaga B on Saturday evening, a result which nonetheless confirms the Andalusians top spot in the table at the halfway stage of the competition. Levante moved up to third pending Sunday's games with a 2-0 win over Lleida, Carmelo heading the Valencia based side into the lead in the second half and Ian Harte getting the second from a free kick. Local keeper Cavallero saved a Bilic penalty in between. Elsewhere Real Murcia's new coach Sergio Kresic got off to a good start with a 1-0 win over Sporting Gjón, Julio Alvarez getting the goal in the first minute, and Albacete made it two home wins in a row after beating Tenerife 3-2. (21.01.06)