Second division - day 40

Numancia made sure of the second division championship for the first time in their history after drawing 2-2 with Castellón. The game appeared to be over by half time, Pau Franch and Víctor Salas putting the visitors two up and Moreno getting himself sent off. But a Bolo header and a Mario free kick after the restart were enough to secure them the point they needed to tie up the title. Later in the evening Málaga struggled to draw 0-0 with neighbours Cádiz, a result which was just enough to take them back in to the promotion spots above Real Sociedad.

It was a good start for Cádiz's new coach Julián Rubio, the point enough to take them above Córdoba and out of the drop zone, although the Andalusians started the match in the bottom four after Xerez and Albacete both won earlier in the day. Xerez beat bottom club Poli Ejido 1-0, Pedro Ríos getting the only goal to leave their fellow Andalusians five points away from safety. And Albacete also won 1-0 against Eibar, Calandria's strike enough to take the Manchegans to within a point of the Basque side in the table.

Sevilla Atlético and Hércules had little to play for in their mid-day match, but they entertained the crowd as the Alicante based side ran out 3-4 winners. Ismael put the visitors ahead in the first minute, with Lolo equalising a quarter of an hour later. Goals by Rubén Navarro either side of half time gave Hércules the advantage, but Pablo Sánchez headed one back on the hour mark. Tote restored the two goal cushion though before Fernando completed the scoring near the end. (01.06.08)

Sporting Gijón came back from a goal down to beat Córdoba 2-1 and move back up to second in the table. Asen headed the Andalusians into the lead following a corner five minutes in to the second half, But Bilic equalised after Diego Castro set him up a quarter of an hour later, and Luis Morán got the winner with ten minutes to go. Real Sociedad are up to third pending Málaga's game on Sunday evening, but they are now two points behind the Asturians after being held to a 1-1 draw by Salamanca. A goal in only the third minute by Delibasic appeared to have set the Basque side on the way to victory, but Isaac equalised half an hour later, and the visitors held on for a vital point which more or less leaves them safe.

Nobody else can overtake the top four after today's results, but Las Palmas are now sixth after a convincing 1-4 win at Elche. The Canary Islanders started the day behind their rivals, but they went ahead when Adrián Colunga beat Valerio close to half time. Christian, Nauzet and Márquez added three more before Cobo's late consolation. Later in the evening Celta and Tenerife inched closer to safety after drawing 2-2. Nuñez set up Jesús Perera for the home side's first, and then added the second himself early in the second half. But strikes by Santos and Nino saved a point for the Canary Islanders, who are now five points above the drop zone.

Gimnàstic are all but mathematically safe as well after a 3-2 victory over Granada 74. Goals from Abraham and Campano put the Catalans two up, and although Luque got one back before the break, Adrián restored the two goal cushion soon after the restart. A Luque penalty with eight minutes to go gave the Andalusians hope of saving something from the match, but it was not to be. They stay in next to bottom spot, a point behind Alavés who drew 1-1 at Racing Ferrol. Coromina headed the equaliser after Pereira had put the Galicians ahead early on to stay just two points behind their opponents in the table. (31.05.08)