Second division - day 36

Numancia are just a couple of wins away from promotion after they beat Tenerife 4-2 on Sunday lunchtime. Goals from Quero and Juan Carlos Moreno in the early minutes of the first and second halves set them on their way. But Iriome got one back and Jacobo had to save an Ayoze penalty before Nagore and Del Pino wrapped things up later on. Later in the day Málaga consolidated second spot after coming from behind to beat Celta 1-2. Canobbio put the Galicians ahead from the penalty spot before the break, but goals from Eliseu and Iván Rosado midway through the second half turned the scoreline around. Elche kept their slim hopes of promotion alive with a 3-2 win over Córdoba. Arthuro put the Andalusians two up, but second half strikes from Noel-Williams, José Vega and Víctor kept David Vidal's side eight points off the top three.

Córdoba drop to next to last place, just a point now ahead of Poli Ejido, who beat Eibar 1-0 to move to within five points of safety. Mario Bermejo got the only goal ten minutes from the end. Only two points separate the five sides just above them though, with Xerez climbing to the brink of escaping the drop zone after a 3-0 win over relegation rivals Alavés. Gimnàstic drop below the Andalusians in the table after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hércules, but Racing Ferrol continue to move clear of the danger area after a 2-1 win over Cádiz. (04.05.08)

Sporting Gijón held on to third spot with a last minute 2-1 victory over Granada 74. Things appeared to be going against the Asturians when Michel was sent off close to half time, and then Javi Guerra put the visitors ahead soon after the restart. But Kike Mateo equalised, and Bilic headed home a corner in injury time to win the match. Sporting stay two points ahead of Real Sociedad, who beat Sevilla Atlético 2-0 to stay in fourth place. Garitano opened the scoring shortly before the break and Díaz de Cerio got the second later on. Castellón are now five points behind the Basque side after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas. And Albacete climb out of the relegation zone after a 2-1 win over Salamanca, Xavi Jiménez getting the winner five minutes from the end. (03.05.08)