Second division - day 30

Valladolid extended their unbeaten run to 24 games after a 0-1 victory at Elche on Sunday evening. Víctor got the only goal in the first half to maintain the eight point gap over Murcia. Third placed Almería stay two behind Murcia after beating Numancia 3-0 with a strike from Ortíz and two from Crusat, and with the four teams below the top three all failing to win, Ciudad Murcia now find themselves in fourth spot thanks to their 0-1 victory over bottom club Vecindario. The gap though has opened up to ten points, and it would take a brave man to bet on anybody ousting the top three from the promotion spots this season.

The relegation spots are by no means decided though, and there were victories for four of the teams caught up in the struggle to avoid the drop. An early goal from Pablo Couñago gave Málaga a 1-0 win over neighbours Xerez, their first victory in seven games. Castilla remain above them though after coming back from a goal down to beat Poli Ejido 4-1. Castellón stay down in the bottom four despite beating Alavés 2-0, and Ponferradina are still two points below them after a last minute 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Lorca, Risso getting the winner in injury time. (25.03.07)

Second placed Real Murcia took another big step towards promotion with a 3-1 win over Sporting Gijón on Saturday evening. Jofre started things off early on, and an Aranda penalty and a strike from Noel-Williams after the break put them three up before Sastre's injury time consolation.

Murcia's position was helped as well by defeats for two of the teams just outside of the promotion spots. Cádiz lost 1-2 to Albacete, Calle scoring twice to take the Manchegans to within a point of their opponents. And Salamanca were beaten 2-0 by Hércules, Kike Mateo and Moisés getting the goals to take the Alicante based side away from the danger zone.

The biggest crowd of the day though was at the Canary Island derby, where Tenerife ran out 3-1 winners over Las Palmas. Youth international Iriome scored twice in the first half to take his side above their rivals in the table. (24.03.07)