Second division - day 22

Xerez kept up their three point lead at the top of the table after a 2-0 victory over struggling Alicante on a rainy Sunday evening throughout Spain. Substitute Sarmiento won a penalty late in the second half which Momo converted, and then scored the second himself to wrap things up. Tenerife hold on to second spot though after a 0-1 win against Gimnàstic. Angel came on as substitute and headed the only goal from Kome's cross within 30 seconds of making his appearance.

Zaragoza are only just outside of the top three though after beating Levante 2-1. Ewerthon gave them the lead midway through the first half, and although Geijo made it all square before the break, Arizmendi won it later on. Salamanca lost a bit of ground on the leaders after drawing 1-1 at Alavés, Miku's second half strike cancelled out by a last minute Pablo Casar equaliser. And Elche moved up safely to mid-table after coming from behind to beat Eibar 1-2, second half goals by Miguel and Iván Bolado overturning Sutil's opener. (01.02.09)

Hércules moved to within a point of leaders Xerez pending their game on Sunday after a 1-0 win over Córdoba. Rubén Navarro got the winner with a hotly disputed penalty near the end. Real Sociedad are up in to the top three after a 0-1 victory at Las Palmas, despite playing over half the game with ten men. Abreu scored his first goal for his new club after winning himself a penalty in the opening minutes.

It's all remarkably close at the top though, with another eight clubs within three points of the promotion spots. Castellón were in the top three themselves for most of their game against Huesca after Ulloa put them ahead in the second minute, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Nico Medina equalised in injury time. Rayo Vallecano moved up level with Castellón after a 0-1 victory at Murcia, Pachón getting the only goal on the quarter hour mark to end a run of five wins in a row for José Miguel Campos's side.

Girona and Celta stay two points behind Rayo after cancelling each other out in a rainy 2-2 draw. Dinei opened the scoring for the Galicians after the break, but headed goals from Oscar Alvarez and Igor turned the scoreline around before Ghilas made it all square in the end. A draw as well between bottom club Sevilla Atlético and Albacete, Moisés equalising for the locals two minutes after new signing Toché had put the visitors in front from the penalty spot. (31.01.09)