Only one fixture on Saturday in the second division, with Alavés winning 0-1 at Cádiz to move up to third place in the table. It was an open game with several chances in the first half, the visitors' best when Rubén Navarro got on the end of a De Lucas cross to hit the post and Manolo Pérez almost catching out Bonano at the other end a few minutes later. There was a brief power cut around the hour mark, and soon after play resumed Bodipo got the only goal of the game, volleying home a pass from Téllez to end the Andalusians' seven match unbeaten run. (30.10.04)

Elche moved up level with Alavés on points after beating Sporting Gijón 4-0 on Sunday lunchtime. The East coast side were looking to repeat their midweek cup victory against the Asturians, and took the lead through Txiki following a corner midway through the first half. Sporting were left with ten men soon after the restart when Gerardo was given a second booking for diving, and the hosts took advantage to score twice more, Rubén setting up Nino and then getting the third himself from a free kick. The visitors had a second man sent off with a quarter of an hour still to go, Pablo Alvarez getting a red card for a hard tackle on Nino, and Peragón rounded things off with a fourth goal a couple of minutes later.

Racing Ferrol kept up their unbeaten away record when they drew 1-1 at Málaga B in another match which kicked off at midday. The home side took the lead against the run of play on the half hour mark, Rubén Baraja's brother Javi driving the ball home after the defence only partly cleared Abel's free kick. The Galicians equalised on the stroke of half time through Jaio following a corner, and their goalkeeper Bello Amigo did the rest with three or four vital saves in the second half.

If anyone had been asked to bet money on which sides would be occupying the top three spots a quarter of a way through the season, it is unlikely that they would have chosen Xerez, Eibar and Poli Ejido. But if the league were to end today, those are the three clubs who would go up.

Xerez opened up a two point gap at the top after a 0-1 win at Terrassa on Sunday evening, Mena getting the only goal of the game five minutes from the end after a mistake by David Charcos. It was a dull match, with the only attempts at goal in the first half a long shot by local striker Maikel and a free kick at the other end by José which Morales had trouble stopping. And there was even less action in the second half, especially after Terrassa midfielder Gallego had to leave the field with an injury a quarter of an hour from the end with all three substitutions made. Mena's goal though keeps up Xerez's unbeaten record this season.

Eibar move up to second spot after a 2-3 win at Pontevedra, Llorente getting the winner midway through the second half after the Galicians had cancelled out a two goal lead. Quique Mateo and Corredoira had put the Basque side two up within a quarter of an hour, but the Galicians came back with headed goals from Javi Rodríguez and Charles early in the second half. This was Eibar's first away win of the season, and leaves the home side without a victory at the Pasarón stadium all season.

Poli Ejido hang on to third place after fighting back to draw 1-1 against struggling Real Murcia. The visitors seemed to be in trouble when Marañon was sent off for a hard tackle five minutes before the interval, but only a minute later Acciari set up Richi to open the scoring for them. The Andalusians piled on the pressure after the break, with Vucko and Toedtli going close, and seven minutes from the end Sierra finally beat Juanmi with a shot into the top corner of the net. Vucko and Víctor Salas both hit the woodwork in the dying minutes, but Murcia held on to keep Malono Preciado in a job for another few days at least.

Lleida moved back up to seventh, just two points outside the promotion spots, after winning 1-2 at Ciudad Murcia. Güiza missed a couple of opportunities to put the locals ahead in the first half, and they paid the price when Crusat set up Sergio Rodríguez to give the visitors the lead in the first minute after the restart. The Catalans were left with ten men when Pelegri was sent off for a tackle on Cuevas, put even so they extended the lead with an Arnal penalty after Cuevas fouled Crusat. Late substitute Rivero pulled one back in the last minute, but it was not enough to stop Lleida recording their fourth away win of the season. The result leaves both Murcia based sides in the relegation zone, and Ciudad manager Miguel Alvarez could be on his way if his side don't win at Almería next week.

Three of the theoretical favourites, Celta, Valladolid and Recreativo, did at last raise their heads this weekend with much needed victories. A goal from Angel gave Celta a 0-1 win at Salamanca, their first win in eight games, taking some of the pressure off manager Fernando Vázquez. The Galicians had the better chances early on, especially an effort from Jandro which Tom did well to save, and Angel put them ahead before the interval with a shot which took a deflection off a defender. Canobbio thought he had got a second after the restart with a free kick but he hadn't realised it was indirect, and the locals almost equalised in the confusion afterwards. Otherwise though there was little danger for Pinto, and Salamanca fall to their third home defeat of the season just a few days after Mirandés knocked them out of the cup.

Valladolid also won 1-0 against Nàstic, their first victory in eight league goals taking them away from the danger spots. The first chance fell to Iván Anía for the visitors, but otherwise the home side were on top and Hornos missed a good chance to open the scoring when he slipped in front of Janjo Valencia. Aduriz headed a free kick from substitute Víctor against the bar, and Hornos finally got on the end of Víctor's cross to score the only goal a quarter of an hour from the end. The result brings the Catalans down to Earth after their cup win against Zaragoza, and leaves them firmly down in the bottom four.

Two goals from Calle gave Recreativo a 0-2 victory at bottom club Córdoba, the first time the Huelva based club have scored more than one all season. The visitors were on top right from the start, Jauregui saving from Rosu and Viqueria rattling the upright with a free kick before Calle opened his account for his new club on the half hour mark. The striker came close to scoring again after the restart, but Montenegro and Armentano could have equalised for the locals before Calle wrapped things up with a hotly disputed injury time penalty.

Tenerife had another disappointment though, losing 1-3 at home to Almería, for whom Nanni scored twice. The new signing opened the scoring with an individualist goal on the quarter hour mark, and could have got a second near the break had Keleman not been at his best. Half time substitute Limones levelled the scores with a free kick, but Corona gave the ball away to Vellisca for him to restore the lead, and Nanni charged down a clearance by Edu Moya to make it three. Cristo hit the bar for the locals, but it was too late and they fell to their first home defeat of the season. (31.10.04)