Sevilla moved back to the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over fourth placed Salamanca. The goals came from Héctor in the first half after a defender blocked Gallardo's shot, and from an Olivera penalty ten minutes from time after he was brought down by the keeper. They are now one point ahead of neighbours Betis, who came from behind to draw 1-1 against a rejuvenated Elche, who included new signings Nadj, Parri and Chispa Delgado in their squad. Nino scored for the home side on the quarter hour mark, their only shot at goal in all the first half, but Betis got the goal they deserved after the break, Amato heading home from Denilson's cross. Gálvez almost gave them three points at the end when he hit the bar. Betis stay a point ahead of Tenerife who drew 0-0 at Sporting. The home side were reduced to ten men when Sánchez Jara was sent off for a second bookable offence, but the Canary Island side could not take advantage and eventually settled for a point. Sporting's new manager Acebal was on the bench at the Molinón stadium for the first time, and their most recent signing from Espanyol Manel started the game.

The top three have opened up a four point gap over fourth placed Salamanca, themselves four points ahead of fifth placed Recreativo Huelva. They drew their thirteenth match of the season 1-1 against Atlético Madrid, who look less and less likely to be returning to the top flight next year. Only an injury time goal by Mena from a free kick salvaged a point for Atleti, who fell behind to a David header ten minutes into the second half, and the equaliser came only seconds after Recreativo's Bodipo hit the bar. Another of their new signings Wicky made his debut, and Juan Gómez was sent off fifteen minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card. Atletico are now in thirteenth place with 30 points, only four behind Recreativo but still twelve away from Tenerife in the third promotion spot. Still, there are another 19 games to go yet....

Six teams are separated by a single point just behind Recreativo, with Levante moving up to sixth spot jumping ahead of their rivals Córdoba on goal average with a 2-1 victory. Two late goals from Salillas, the first from the penalty spot after new signing Moha was fouled, sealed their win after Melgar had given the Andalucian side an early lead, also from a penalty. Eibar join them after salvaging a point in injury time against Leganés, Leniz scoring in the 92nd minute after Miguel had headed the Madrid based side ahead twenty minutes earlier. Puñal was sent off for the home side just before the last goal.

Murcia and Albacete both won to move level with Sporting Gijon on 32 points. Murcia beat struggling Lleida 0-1 thanks to a Zárate penalty in the second half, and Lleida's manager Miguel Rubio could be the next head to roll after fans protested during the match. Albacete fell behind to a spectacular goal by Extremadura's Duré, but a goal by Javi Guerrero in each half, the second in injury time, turned the result around and gave them their first win in six games. Extremadura ended the game with nine men. Another of the draw specialists Badajoz also shared the points at Jaén in a dull game without goals, and they are a point behind Albacete. Jaén have not now won at home in three months.

US international Razov got a second half hat-trick for Racing Ferrol, the first from the penalty spot, as they beat relegation rivals Compostela 0-5. Manel and Nogueira got their first two goals, also in the second half. After eight games without defeat Racing finally move out of the relegation zone up to seventeenth, with their rivals taking their place in the bottom four. Compostela are a point ahead of Getafe, who drew 0-0 against the bottom club Universidad Las Palmas. Getafe's defender Cañizares was sent off late in the match. The point takes the Canary Island team to within one of Lleida, but both are well adrift of the rest and already look doomed.