Levante moved back to second spot after a 1-0 win over Tenerife, a result which saved the head of manager Manolo Preciado. The Valencia based side had only picked up four points from their last five games before this one, and although they were still in the promotion spots, Preciado's directors had given him an ultimatum. They got off to the best possible start though, Aganzo passing through for Jofre to open the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, and although their only real effort after that was an Aganzo shot just wide, they reached the half time interval without their lead ever being threatened. Raúl Martín and Barata did both have chances after the break for the visitors, but they were off target and they went home empty handed, their side still in the bottom four without an away win all season.

Fourth placed Getafe were beaten 2-0 by a Recreativo Huelva side who have yet to lose in 2004, and who are now within two points of their opponents. The league's oldest club took the lead in the seventh minute through Viqueira from a set-piece free kick, and Uche made it two before half time with an individualist goal. Both keepers were in action after the interval, Recre's Toño saving from Michel and late on from Craoiveanu, and Sergio Sánchez keeping out efforts from Toedtli and Raúl Molina in between. Getafe finished the match with ten men after Tena picked up a second booking ten minutes from the end.

Alavés moved level with Getafe after a 1-2 victory against bottom club Algeciras, who ended the weekend nine points adrift of the teams above them. The home side's assistant coach José Antonio Asián took over from Iosu Ortuondo after his resignation midweek, and for a few minutes his team were looking good, Jorge Zafra opening the scoring with a header from Armentano's cross with only seven minutes on the clock. But five minutes later Vucko beat Iñaki with a diving header from a possible offside position to level the scores, and just before half time De Lucas put the Basques ahead, cutting in from the left wing to shoot low past the keeper. Asián threw on an extra forward Sequeiros at the break, but when Castillo was sent off for a second bookable offence twenty minutes from the end it was all over.

Nobody had much heart to play football though, and nowhere more so than at Vallecas, one of the districts most affected by the terrorist attack on Thursday, where Rayo Vallecano played neighbours Leganés. There were emotive scenes before the game, and it was no surprise that it finished 0-0. Chances were few and far between, with local keeper Segura saving from Pablo Rodríguez and the defence clearing an effort from Biagini at the other end, the only shots on goal in the first half. The visitors were left with ten men shortly before half time when Mustafá picked up a second booking, but Rayo were unable to capitalize, with substitutes Marqués and Idiakez both failing to find the target late on. Both sides stay just one point outside the relegation spots.

Poli Ejido lost 0-1 to Ciudad Murcia thanks to a late goal from Lerinc, and they too find themselves only two points off the drop zone. Both sides started the day level on points but it was the visitors who got off to the better start, with Aguilar and Güiza both testing Kike. De Nigris and Carlos both went close for the locals, but Güiza almost put his side in front when he hit the post shortly before the break. The home side were left with one short though when Llorens picked up a second yellow card with a quarter of an hour to go, and Ciudad took advantage of the extra man when Lerinc turned in Aguilar's cross three minutes from the end. (13.03.04)

Leaders Sporting Gijon came from behind to beat Las Palmas 1-2 on Sunday lunchtime, their first win in four games. The home side were in need of a victory, and Momo went close twice in the first half before finally getting on the end of a cross from ex Sporting midfielder Tomás to beat Roberto on the hour mark. The keeper made an excellent save a few minutes later though to keep out a header from Jahic, and visiting manager Marcelino decided to make changes, bringing on Rubén and Ismael. It couldn't have worked out better for him, with Rubén setting up Ismael to equalise five minutes later, and Ismael crossing in for Miguel to score the winner two minutes from full time. The defeat takes Las Palmas back to within a point of the relegation zone.

The top three teams all won this weekend to open up a six point gap on the chasing pack. Numancia regained second spot after losing it for 24 hours to Levante, a goal from Juan Carlos Moreno with less than a minute on the clock enough to give them a 0-1 win at Terrassa on Sunday evening. The ex Terrassa forward finished off a team move with a chip over keeper Morales, and five minutes later Fagiani almost made it two with a dangerous free kick. After that though the chances were few and far between, with the best falling to the locals. Ismael tested Luis García with a long shot before the break and Maikel headed just wide and then hit the bar in two actions at the beginning of the second half. Numancia played out the last quarter of the game with ten men when Fagiani picked up a second booking, but they had no problems holding on for their fourth victory in a row.

Cádiz are probably out of the promotion chase though after they lost 1-0 at Elche, leaving them now below their opponents down in ninth place. As in many other matches, the goal came early on, Benja heading home Toro Acuña's corner in the fourth minute. Both sides had several chances after that, mainly in a lively second half. The locals came close to equalising when Benja cleared from Pavoni, and Dani Mallo saved well from a Manolo Pérez free kick and later on from a Jonathan Sesma header. But Nino missed a sitter at the other end after Navas had blocked a shot from Granero, and Zárate shot wide when free in front of goal in the dying minutes.

A 0-1 win by Málaga B at Córdoba took them to within a point of safety, and the South coast side have only lost once now in their last ten games. The only goal came following a play by Diego Castro (son of ex Córdoba manager Castro Santos), who forced a corner in the seventh minute which ex Real Madrid B defender César Navas headed past Jauregui. Fleurquín came close to equalising before the break, and Nico Olivera hit the bar with a long free kick near the end. But the visitors were almost always on top, and Robi and Geijo could have increased the lead if they had a little bit more luck.

Almería made it seventeen games now without a win, but their 0-0 draw at Salamanca at least keeps them level with Málaga B in nineteenth place. The locals too were on a poor run, having drawn four of the last five games and lost the other. But they went closest to scoring in the first half, Raúl Sánchez steering Gañán's cross wide and then setting up José for him to force Cano into a good save. The Neither side troubled the opposing keeper after the break though, and the crowd lost their patience with their players as the game wore on.

The relegation battle gets tighter every week though, and only three points now separate Tenerife, who drop to next to bottom spot after today's results, and fourteenth placed Xerez, who drew 1-1 at home to Eibar. The Andalucians opened the scoring early on, Calle finishing off after Riesgo pushed out a shot from Mena, but they were left with ten men midway through the first half when Clotet got himself sent off for a second booking. The visitors couldn't take advantage though until twenty minutes from the end, Gaizka Saizar equalising following a Cuevas corner. Eibar ended the weekend in sixth position, seven points away from the promotion spots. (14.03.04)