Atlético Madrid opened up a five point gap at the top with a 0-1 victory over second placed Xerez on Sunday lunchtime. With Diego Alonso on international duty and Fernando Torres not fully fit Correa and Dani lined up in attack for the visitors, and the only goal came after a Correa free kick with a quarter of an hour gone, Aguilera scoring his fourth of the season after Luis had pushed out the Uruguayan's shot. The home side did everything they could in the second half, but Atlético shut up shop on a difficult pitch and played out the remaining minutes to put themselves in a very strong position to return to the top flight next season.

Oviedo moved up to third place with a 3-1 victory over Córdoba, their first win in five games. Geni gave them the lead late in the first half and although Alfonso equalised quickly, Oscar Alvarez headed them back in front after the restart. Pablo Díaz wrapped things up in the last minute, leaving Córdoba down within a point of the relegation spots. Their second manager of the season Crispi was fired the day after the match, with B team coach José Murcia taking over for the time being.

Oviedo are a point ahead of Racing Ferrol, who also won their game 3-1 against ten man Salamanca. Robert levelled the scores for the visitors in the first half after Palacios had given the Gallicians an early lead. However Fran Nogueira put Ferrol back in front on the stroke of half time, and after Salamanca's Zegarra was sent off for a second yellow card, Ismael finished things off two minutes from the end. This was a good result for the home side after they had lost 2-0 to Nastic midweek in the match postponed from day five.

Last week's third placed side Burgos dropped four places to seventh after losing 0-1 at home to improving Badajoz, their fourth defeat in the El Plantio stadium in a row. The only goal was scored by Molist on the hour mark, heading home a cross from David Bauza. They rise up to fifteenth in the table after taking thirteen points in five games under new manager Alhinho.

Burgos stay on 23 points, level with Albacete and Recreativo. Albacete picked up a point with a 0-0 draw away at Extremadura, who have not won at home now in four games, and who stay in the bottom four. It was a dull game, with the only incident worth talking about a possible penalty on the home side's Renaldo which the referee ignored.

Recreativo also drew away, 1-1 at Eibar. Raúl Molina headed his eighth goal of the season on the stroke of half time, taking him level with Diego Alonso, Pineda and Nino at the top of the goalscorers chart. Aldeondo equalised for the home side early in the second half, but then got himself sent off ten minutes from the end for a second bookable offence.

A high scoring match at Jaén on Saturday, where the home side threw away a three goal lead to end up drawing 3-3 with Sporting Gijon. Two from Pepelu and a well struck free kick in between from Milosevic gave the Andalucian side what looked like an unassailable lead five minutes in to the second half. However goals by David Pirri, Soto and Michel saved a point for the Asturians despite playing the last fifteen minutes with ten men after Alberto picked up a second yellow.

Racing Santander showed that they can still be considered candidates for promotion with a convincing 4-0 win over Numancia also on Saturday night. A mistake by keeper Jonathan let through Pablo Sierra's long shot for the opener and Bodipo added a second with only a quarter of an hour gone. Racing scored twice more in the second half, the first a Mateo and shot and then an Ismael penalty after Cuéllar pulled back Bodipo, to take their Quique Setién's side up near the top spots. Setién, who was only acting as caretaker, agreed during the week to manage the side to the end of the season.

Racing join a group of four sides on 21 points, including Eibar, Salamanca and Elche, who came from behind to beat Gimnastic Tarragona 1-2. Deus gave the home side the lead but Nino scored twice, the first from a penalty after a foul by Bernaus and the second after a defensive error to leave Nastic down in next to bottom spot. Their caretaker manager Jaume Bonet has been asked to carry on, but is not keen for obvious reasons.

The new Leganés manager Carlos Aguiar took his side away from the relegation zone with a much needed 2-1 victory over their direct rivals Levante. They started badly though when Larrea put through his own net when trying to clear a free kick, but came back quickly with an equaliser from Miguel Angel only four minutes later. Gámiz scored the winner from a free kick with an hour gone to leave their opponents five points behind them in twentieth place.

Levante are still two points ahead of Nastic and five above bottom side Poli Ejido, who picked up a point with a 0-0 draw at home to Murcia. The Andalucian side had the best chances, with Juan Jesús and Sergio Cruz missing open goals in the first half, but visiting keeper Reinke was able to keep a clean sheet in the end to take his side to thirteenth in the table. This was the fifth time that Ejido have shared the points in the Santo Domingo stadium this season, and their home fans have yet to see them win there since they won promotion in the summer.