The top two have a chance to open up an even bigger lead tomorrow after the third and fourth placed sides both lost. Getafe were beaten 2-1 by Cádiz, who themselves move back up to within two points of the Madrid based side. The visitors went close to opening the score when Michel headed against the bar, but it was the Andalucians who took the lead when Abraham Paz got on the end of a Manolo Pérez free kick to head past Sergio Sánchez five minutes before the break. Amaya equalised early in the second half, again from a header following a Rivas free kick, but Getafe's Nano got himself sent off for elbowing Enrique a quarter of an hour from the end. The game appeared to be heading for a draw when Cádiz were awarded their first penalty of the season after Mario Cotelo brought down Enrique in the ninety-fourth minute, and Manolo Pérez stepped up to slot home the winner.

Fourth placed Alavés failed to take advantage of Getafe's defeat, and they too were beaten 2-1 by relegation candidates Málaga B. Juanma put the Andalucians ahead in only the second minute from Geijo's pass, and after that they sat back to defend their lead. Pepe Mel threw on an extra forward at the break, but they were unable to break down a confident defence and Juanma scored a second goal, again from Geijo's headed pass on a quick breakaway. Geijo could have got a third himself when he hit the post, but with two minutes to go Puigdollers fouled Galván in the area and Téllez converted the resulting penalty.

Rayo Vallecano's third manager of the season Tzetxu Rojo got off to a good start with a 1-0 victory over Terrassa, taking his side out of the bottom four. The Madrid based side came out with confidence right from the start, and shortly after Corino shot just wide of the post, Peragón opened the scoring with a spectacular volley. The Catalans had won their previous three games, and they came back strongly after the break, with Rubén and Charcos both failing to convert chances. And even though they were reduced to nine men when Quique Martín and then Héctor were sent off for second bookable offences in the last ten minutes, Saja had to produce a first class save from Maikel in injury time to ensure the victory.

Rayo move up to within a point of Las Palmas, who are back in trouble after losing 3-1 at Ciudad Murcia. Their manager David Vidal was returning to the Condomina stadium for the first time since taking the city's other side Real Murcia to the first division, and he was given a warm welcome by the fans. But his team found themselves behind when Güiza set up Kaiku midway through the first half, and it was Güiza again who found Camuñas for him to make it two after the break. Matheus pulled one back ten minutes later when he headed Momo's corner past Alberto Cifuentes, but Leandro wrapped things up in the last minute, again after good work by Güiza. (21.02.04)

Second placed Levante were beaten 3-1 on Sunday lunchtime by Numancia, who move back up to third place as a result. Volunteers had to clear eight centimetres of snow off the pitch before the game could kick off, but it was worth the effort as the home side went two up in the first half hour with a Moreno free kick and a spectacular shot from thirty metres by Rosu. The visitors pulled one back with a Rivera penalty after Fagiani brought down Ettien, and Congo fired a shot against the bar shortly before the break. But another well struck free kick from Fagiani in the second half ensured Numancia's first win in eight games and their return to the promotion spots.

Leganés and Xerez playing out an exciting 3-3 tie in their Sunday morning match, with the lead changing hands twice. The locals took the lead ten minutes before the break when Alessandria scored from Borja's pass, and they seemed set for victory when Cachorro was sent off for elbowing Melgar. But two goals either side of half time by Calle, the first a hotly disputed penalty and the second after a defensive mistake, turned the scoreline around. Leganés went back into the lead with goals from Calandria and then Borja, but with five minutes to go Alessandria turned Mena's cross into his own net for the final scoreline. With other results going against them, both sides are within a point of the relegation places.

Sporting Gijon increased their lead at the top of the table to four points despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Recreativo on Sunday evening. It was a dull game, with the visitors looking to defend their goal and try to surprise their opponents on the counter-attack, and their only attempt at scoring came from Raúl Molina early in the second half. The Asturians fared little better though, with Miguel and Pablo Alvarez wasting chances in both halves and keeper Toño saving well from a Bilic free kick after the break. Sporting have now gone nine games and seven minutes without letting in a goal, and keeper Roberto could go into the record books next week for the longest unbeaten run in the history of the second division. Recre are also setting records though, this being their fifteenth draw of the season out of twenty-five games, the highest total in Europe this season.

With Sporting and Levante well clear of the rest, five sides are battling it out for the third promotion spot. Eibar stay three points behind current incumbents Numancia after drawing 0-0 against Salamanca, a match which with a bit more luck they should have won. The first chance of the game fell to Tuni for the visitors, keeper Riesgo reacting quickly to snuff out any danger, but after that it was all one-way traffic in favour of the Basque side. Stelea put in a sterling performance in the visiting goal though, keeping out efforts from Brit, Llorente and others, and substitute Cuevas shot wide with the goal at his mercy late on.

As usual the league table is very tight, and only five points separate eighth placed Salamanca from nineteenth position, which is currently occupied by Rayo Vallecano after most of the bottom sides picked up points. Poli Ejido in particular recorded a much needed 1-2 victory at Elche to move up five places to fourteenth, ex Elche manager Julián Rubio returning to his old hunting ground and coming away with the spoils. The locals took the lead with a Moisés penalty after Nino was fouled in the area, but Ejido levelled the scores only two minutes later when Benja put through his own net. And before half time De Nigris put the Andalucians ahead after Dani Mallo could only push away a shot from Agostinho.

Tenerife got their first win in fourteen games to move back up to within two points of safety. It was not a convincing victory though, their opponents Córdoba dominating the first half but unable to beat Alvaro, who made an important save from Villa early on. Nico Olivera and Berruet both put efforts wide as well before half time, and the Canary Islanders only reply came when Barata just failed to get on the end of Keko's off-target shot. A minute after the restart though Raúl Martín took advantage of a pass from Barata to score the only goal of the game, the first Tenerife have scored in the eight matches played to date in 2004.

Bottom side Algeciras drew 2-2 at Almería, a result which, although an improvement on previous results, leaves them six points adrift of the teams immediately above them. The home team have been going through their own crisis recently, and their run of fourteen games without a win has seen them drop from the promotion spots to within a point of the relegation zone. The visitors took the lead early on when Armentano got on the end of Dani's free kick to beat Valerio, but goals either side of half time by Ortíz and Jorge Pérez turned the scoreline around. Tevenet levelled the scores though from a free kick, and Valerio had to be at his best to save from an Armentano header near the end. (22.02.04)