Levante moved to the top of the table pending Sunday's games with a 2-1 win over Terrassa. All three goals came in a ten minute period late in the first half just after Gallego had hit the bar for the visitors, with Cuéllar heading Descarga's cross into the net to put the home side ahead. Monty equalised a minute later after Maikel set him up, but Jofre restored the lead for the Valencia based team before the break. Local keeper Mora saved a penalty from Jordi Navas after the restart, and the visitors failed to take advantage of several chances after that, Alexis clearing off the line from Gallego and substitute Molist wasting a couple of opportunities late on.

Cádiz moved to within a point of the top three with a 1-2 victory at Almería on Saturday evening. The home side's new signing from Paraguay, ex Espanyol forward Miguel Angel Benítez, put them in front on the stroke of half time with a long shot after picking up a pass from Francisco. But the visitors came back to turn the scoreline around within seven minutes of the restart, with Suárez making it all square after good work by Mario, and Manolo Pérez beating Cano with a free kick. Almería have now gone ten games without a win, and all reports suggest that local manager Casuco will be fired next week.

Mixed results for the Canary Island sides, with Las Palmas climbing out of the relegation spots after a last minute Rubén penalty gave them a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. Rayo's new keeper Sebastian Saja put in an excellent performance, keeping out efforts from Carmelo, Rubén and Momo amongst others ,and it appeared that they could be on their way to a valuable point when Idiakez fouled Changui in the area. Rubén stepped up to score his fifteenth of the season and give David Vidal's side their first win in seven games.

Tenerife sink further in to the bottom four though after losing 1-0 to a Getafe side who finished with nine men. Diego Rivas was playing his first game since his loan to Atlético Madrid was cut short, and he was the first to get his marching orders early in the second half for a second bookable offence. The Canary Islanders looked to be on the way to a win when referee Paradas Romero awarded a very rigorous penalty to them for a foul on Iker Garai, but keeper Aragoneses, himself playing his last game before returning to Atlético, dived to save Martín Posse's shot. Paradas awarded another dubious penalty to Getafe when Corona tackled Michel which the forward himself tucked it away, and they held on despite losing Alberto to a second booking late on. (24.01.04)

Alavés threw away a chance to move into the top three when they were beaten 0-2 by Basque rivals Eibar on Sunday lunchtime. The Vitoria based side were full of confidence after their midweek cup win over Celta, and De Lucas hit the post with a free kick in only the third minute. The ex Espanyol and Chelsea midfielder gave the ball away though soon after the restart allowing Llorente to equalise, and Iván Alonso fired a penalty straight at keeper Riesgo a few minutes later. Pepe Mel threw everything forward, but the visitors took advantage to score a second goal through Corredoira in the final minute and move level on points with their opponents. (25.01.04)

The fight for the third promotion spot is hotting up, and Numancia's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Recreativo on Sunday evening means that only two points separate five teams. The Soria based side have never won in Huelva, although they could have been in front at the break after Pineda wasted the only real chance in a dull first half. The Andalucians scored twice though in a five minute period around the hour mark following Viqueira free kicks, Toedtli setting up Iker Begoña for the first and Uche diving to head home the second. Numancia had a chance to pull one back when Loren fouled Juan Carlos Moreno in the area, but Fagiani missed the resulting penalty. Despite the defeat though they stay in third place, although several teams are closing in and Recreativo themselves are now only six points off after their fourth win in a row.

Salamanca moved back into the top half of the table with a 3-0 win over Elche, who themselves are now in the lower part of the classification. The home side took the lead with half an hour on the clock somewhat against the run of play, Cañas heading home a corner from Aurelio. Raúl Sánchez should have added to the lead either side of half time, but it was not until the entry of Zé Tó in the second half that they scored again, the Portuguese forward returning from injury to set up José for a second headed goal only minutes after coming on. Raúl Sánchez added a third five minutes later from Escoda's cross to give his side their first home win since the first week of December.

Two goals from Enría helped Leganés to a much needed 1-3 win at Córdoba, and they too move up into the first eleven places as a result. The Argentine striker opened the scoring in the sixth minute after the locals had wasted a couple of chances, and added a second a minute after the restart when Marini set him up. Pulpo González put the Andalucians back in the game when headed Larrainzar's cross past Raúl, but even though the visitors failed to take advantage of a penalty when Jauregui saved from Txiki, Calandria cracked home a third goal in injury time to put the result beyond doubt. Córdoba have yet to win in the new year, and they ended the weekend only three points above the drop zone.

A roller coaster down at the bottom of the table, where a couple of wins or defeats can take sides in and out of the relegation struggle. Poli Ejido drop back into the bottom four after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Xerez, who rise up five places after their ninth game without a loss. The home side put aside their financial problems for 90 minutes or so, although only a couple of good saves from their veteran keeper Unanua kept the scores level at the break. The visitors were left with ten men though when substitute Llorens picked up two yellow cards within three minutes of coming on, and Calle finished off a team move seven minutes from the end to take the three points.

Meanwhile bottom club Algeciras recorded their second win in a row, this time 2-0 against Ciudad Murcia, and they are now only five points away from safety. The home side opened the scoring only thirty seconds in to the match when Aitor Santos beat Tete, and although the visitors' new signing Quique Romero hit the post, Bayarri made it two before the break with a well struck free kick. Local keeper Julio Iglesias had to make a couple of important saves though from Güiza in the second half to ensure a victory which cost the job of Ciudad manager Juan Manuel Lillo, who was fired only hours after the final whistle. (25.01.04)

Leaders Sporting Gijon drew 0-0 at Málaga B in a game put back to Monday night due to the clash of fixtures with the Málaga first team. The Asturians were up against it in the first half, with Geijo wasting an early chance and visiting keeper Roberto saving well from Merino. A few minutes before the break Sporting were left with ten men when defender Vázquez picked up a second booking, but two minutes later they could have scored, Bilic seeing his effort blocked by Lara and Miguel hitting the bar on the rebound. Manager Marcelino García pulled his men back though after the interval to defend the point, which they did without too many problems. With the season at the midway point, the Gijon based side stay ahead of Levante thanks to a higher number of goals scored, and therefore take the honorary title of winter champions. (26.01.04)