Second division, day 20

Second placed Real Murcia stayed within four points of leaders Valladolid after a thrilling 4-3 win over bottom club Vecindario on Sunday evening. It looked as if the Canary Islanders were going to stage an epic comeback though until Iván Alonso got the winner in injury time. A last minute victory for third placed Almería as well, a goal by Mena giving them a 1-0 win over nine man Castilla. Salamanca were held to a 0-0 draw by Tenerife though, and they are now two points off the relegation spots.

Hércules moved up to fifth in the table after beating Ponferradina 3-0, making it 13 points from their last five matches. Sendoa, Farinós and Montenegro got the goals which keeps their opponents in the relegation zone. Xerez drop to tenth though after losing 1-0 at Numancia, Bolo scoring for the hosts to hand them their sixth defeat in a row. Earlier in the day Cádiz won 1-0 against local rivals Málaga, Lucas Lobos getting the winner in the ninetieth minute to end a run of four scoreless draws in the Ramón de Carranza stadium. (14.01.07)

Valladolid extended their lead at the top even further after beating Albacete 0-2, and they are now sure of the honorary title of winter champions. Llorente and Mario got the goals in a three minute period midway through the second half. Sporting Gijón missed out on a chance to return to the promotion spots though after they lost 0-1 to Poli Ejido, Toedtli scoring for the visitors late on.

There were wins for two new managers this Saturday, with strikes in the first hour from Astudillo, Rubén Navarro and Pablo Casar giving Fabri's Alavés a 3-1 victory over struggling Lorca, and second half goals from Niño and Cachorro helping David Vidal's Elche overturn an early penalty to win 1-2 at Castellón. Elche are now dead level with Las Palmas, who lost 0-1 at home to Ciudad Murcia thanks to a Luque goal after the break. (13.01.07)