Second division - day 16

Salamanca opened up a two point gap at the top of the table after beating Levante 3-0 on Sunday evening. Gañan opened the scoring in the first half, and after Tena was sent off, the locals added two more through a late Miku penalty and a strike from Paulo Sergio. Earlier in the day Xerez had moved ahead of their rivals after drawing 2-2 at fifth placed Castellón. Antoñito put the Andalusians ahead early on, but goals either side of half time from Ulloa and Uranga turned the scoreline around before Antoñito got his second of the day.

Things are tight at the top though, and only two points separate third placed Hércules form eight placed Tenerife after the Canary Islanders beat the Alicante based side 3-2. Alfaro and Juanlu put the locals two up, and although Tote was sent off, Aguilar got one back before the break. An Oscar Pérez own goal after the restart levelled the scores, but with the visitors down to nine men Alfaro headed the winner in the ninetieth minute. A last gasp goal at Girona as well, where Elche saved a point with a strike from Santos after Serra had given the Catalans the lead before the break.

Bottom club Sevilla Atlético are even further away from safety after a 3-1 defeat to Gimnàstic. An early Perotti penalty put the Andalusians in front, but strikes from Yedra, Moisés and Víctor gave César Ferrando's side their first win in eight games. Nàstic move away from the danger zone, as do Eibar, who beat Basque rivals Alavés 1-0. A Yagüe penalty on the hour mark was enough to take the home side within a point of their neighbours. (07.12.08)

Zaragoza drop out of the top three after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Celta on Saturday evening. Both goals came after the break, Dinei scoring the first and setting up Dani Abalo for the second to take the Galicians within four points of their rivals. Rayo Vallecano are just a point behind Zaragoza after a 0-1 victory at Córdoba, Pachón scoring early on to give his side their first away win of the season. It was a bad start for Córdoba's new coach Juan Luna, and they could find themselves in the relegation spots by the end of the weekend.

Huesca moved up to seventh after beating Murcia 1-0, Luis Helguera heading the only goal from a corner with a quarter of an hour gone. The result leaves Javier Clemente's side further down in the drop zone, although they are still four points ahead of Alicante who lost 1-2 to Las Palmas. Elsewhere Real Sociedad took a step back in their bid for promotion, losing 2-1 to Albacete. Marcos cancelled out Jaime's early strike, but Diego Costa got the winner a minute from the end. (13.12.08)