Second division, day 18

Valladolid ended the year four points clear at the top of the second division despite drawing 2-2 at Hércules. Llorente and Víctor had given the visitors the lead twice, but strikes by Turiel and Tote (in the last minute) cancelled them out. Sporting Gijón moved up to third after beating Las Palmas 2-0, Barral and Diego Castro getting the goals in the last twenty minutes of the game. Xerez though lose ground on the leaders after a 1-0 defeat at Alavés, Ogbeche scoring the only goal ten minutes from the end. (21.12.06)

Almería moved up to second in the table pending Thursday's results after beating Elche 2-0 on Wednesday evening. Crusat opened the scoring early on and made a second goal for Corona on the stroke of half time to keep up his side's seven match unbeaten run. Real Murcia are level with Almería on points though after a 3-2 victory over Málaga. Ramón, Iván Alonso and Abel put the locals three up within half an hour, but two second half strikes by Salva set up an exciting end to the game.

Three goals in as many minutes by Zé Tó, Braulio and Quique Martín midway through the first half ensured Salamanca a 0-3 win at bottom club Vecindario, taking them back up to fourth. Numancia consolidate their position in the top half of the table with a 2-1 victory over Ciudad Murcia, a Raúl Sánchez own goal and a Bolo header cancelling out Luque's earlier penalty. And Cádiz moved up to ninth despite being held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Ponferradina.

Tenerife moved away from the danger zone with a much needed 3-2 win over Castilla, Sicilia, Culebras and Ayoze putting them three up at half time before Mata and Negredo closed the gap. Albacete drop below the Canary Islanders in the table though after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poli Ejido, a last minute Toedtli penalty saving a point for the visitors after Parri had put the locals ahead. And managerless Lorca are deeper in trouble after losing 2-1 at Castellón, Natalio getting the winner late on after a Ramos penalty had equalised Mora's earlier goal. (20.12.06)