Leaders Cádiz were beaten 2-0 on Saturday evening by an Alavés side who themselves move to fourth in the table pending Sunday's games. Both goals came in the first half hour of the game from dead ball kicks, Trotta getting on the end of Pablo's free kick to score the first and De Quintana turning the ball past his own keeper trying to stop an effort from Kiko. Obiorah should have got a goal back for the visitors after the break, but Iván Alonso could have made it three when he struck the crossbar later on.

Almería moved up to second in the table, level with Cádiz on points, after beating Andalucian rivals Córdoba 0-1. The visitors lined up with a five man defence and only Luna up front, and for the first half they sat back looking for a goal on the breakaway. They didn't manage to trouble Jauregui at all though until the hour mark, when Francisco beat the keeper in their first and last shot at goal. Montenegro hit the bar with a late free kick, but otherwise the home side had no reply and they could drop into the bottom four by the end of the weekend.

Tenerife also moved up to the promotion spots, for 24 hours at least, after drawing 1-1 at Las Palmas in the Canary Island derby. Spanish under 21 international Rubén Castro took advantage of a mix up between Djukic and visiting keeper Julio Iglesias in the tenth minute to score his sixth of the season. But ten minutes into the second half Martín Posse saw Orlando off his line and fired in a shot from all of 40 metres to equalize. Tenerife played the last five minutes with ten men after Moya was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Numancia also put in their challenge for the promotion spots with a 1-3 victory over Poli Ejido, and they join Tenerife and Alavés on ten points. Culebras put them in front with a shot from the edge of the area midway through the first half, and although Calado equalised shortly after the restart, Kome set up Velasco for him to head the visitors back in front seven minutes from the end. Ejido threw everything forward, but Pineda took advantage to make it three on a rapid counter-attack in injury time.

Recreativo Huelva were held to a scoreless draw by bottom club Málaga B, and lose ground on the leaders. Last season there were two divisions between these sides, but the visitors held their own in the first half and defended well. Recre had most of the play after the break but couldn't find a way through, and Pernía and then Iker Begoña had to clear off the line from Robi and Iván Hernández in the last quarter of an hour to save a point. (04.10.03)

Xerez recorded their first win of the season after five straight draws, beating the hitherto undefeated Ciudad de Murcia 2-1 on Sunday lunchtime to move up into the top half of the table. The visitors went close twice on the breakaway through Camuñas, but Mena put the Andalucians in front midway through the first half from Mendoza's pass. Camuñas made it all square immediately after the restart, but Selu headed what was to be the winning goal soon afterwards following a corner. Xerez's Dani Pendin was sent off near the end for retaliating when elbowed by an opponent.

Levante moved into top spot, above Cádiz and Almería on goal average, thanks to a last minute goal from Sérvulo against Eibar. The visitors had gone close through Oscar Pérez early on, but they withdrew to defend a point after Alaña was sent off by referee Pérez Pérez for a second bookable offence with only half an hour gone. Local substitute Congo had a goal disallowed after the break before Sérvulo finally beat Riesgo with a shot from outside of the area for the final 1-0 scoreline. There was still time though for Pérez to send off Aganzo for the hosts and Fagoaga for the visitors before the final whistle.

Getafe drop out of the promotion spots after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of struggling Algeciras. The Madrid based side were under pressure from the start, with the home side's three forwards Tevenet (who hit the post), Armentano and Sequeiros all causing problems for Aragoneses. It was not until the second half that the goals came though, Armentano scoring the first from the penalty spot and adding another later on, and Aitor Santos finishing things off near the end. It was the first win of the season for newly promoted Algeciras, who move out of the bottom four as a result.

Leganés followed in the foot steps of Xerez, ending their run of five draws in a row with a 0-1 win at Terrassa. The Catalans failed to put away three easy chances in the opening minutes and ended up paying dearly, Domínguez heading the only goal of the game two minutes in to the second half from a corner. It was a double disappointment for Terrassa's new manager Enrique Martín, who not only lost for the first time since he took over but was also unable to take revenge on the club who fired him at the beginning of the season.

Sporting Gijon won 0-2 away at Salamanca to move away from the danger zone and leave their opponents only one spot above the bottom four. Both goals came within a minute of each other early in the game, Segovia beating Stelea with a long shot which took a deflection off a defender and Dani Borreguero catching the keeper off his line with an even longer lob after a bad clearance. Visiting keeper Roberto had to be at his best to save a David Cañas free kick before the break, but otherwise the Asturians were well in control.

There were two early goals for the visitors at Rayo Vallecano as well, where Elche ran out 1-2 winners in the end. Otero opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Benja headed a second two minutes later from a free kick to give his much criticised manager Cantarero some breathing space. But Crusat headed one back immediately after the restart, and substitute Geni should have levelled the scores soon afterwards when free in front of goal. Azkoitia also had a chance in the last minute but his effort struck the bar, and before the match finished he was sent off after picking up a second booking. (05.10.03)