Four games kicked off on Saturday as the second division resumed after the two week winter break. Elche ensured they stay in the top three for another few days after beating bottom club Córdoba 0-2 in the Nuevo Arcángel stadium. The home side lined up with five of their new signings in their squad, and they could have taken the lead when Unanua saved from Bilic in the fifth minute. But soon afterwards Alfredo found a gap in the defence to put the visitors ahead, and Azkoitia made it two midway through the first half when he rounded Berruet to beat Jauregui. Bilic headed against the bar later in the half, and the home fans got their hopes up when Elche were left with ten men after Unai picked up a second booking before half time. But the new men fared no better than the old, and Moisés could have got a third for Yosu Uribe's side if he had not shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy late on.

An extraordinary match at Salamanca, where Felipe Miñambres's side threw away a two goal lead and ended losing 4-5 to Tenerife. David Cañas headed the hosts into the lead in the third minute, but Hidalgo equalised soon afterwards from the penalty spot when Lupidio fouled Raúl Martín. Aurelio restored the advantage from Afek's corner, and although Hidalgo levelled it once again, Gorka Brit won a penalty which Lupidio converted and then scored himself to make it 4-2 at the break. But the Canary Islanders bounced back in the second half, and after Keko had a shot cleared off the line and Edu Moya hit the post, Cristo headed a third goal for his side. And with the fans calling for the head of Miñambres, Hidalgo completed his hat-trick with the third penalty of the night and Jesús Vázquez headed an injury time winner to leave Salamanca just a place above the relegation spots.

There were goals as well in the other two games, with Málaga B climbing away from the danger zone after beating struggling Ciudad Murcia 3-1 in the first match of the new year. The visitors took the lead though in the tenth minute when Aguilar ran through the defence to beat Goitia, but Abel equalised just three minutes later from a direct free kick. Calderón put the Andalusians ahead shortly before half time after Perico set him up, and could have scored again after the restart when he hit the post in a period of intense pressure by the locals. But they had to wait to the last minute when Ador, who had just come on as substitute, beat Miki with a long shot for the final result.

Racing Ferrol were also in the goals as they ran out 3-0 victors over a Terrassa side who ended the weekend just two places above the drop zone. The Catalans started well but couldn't find a way past Bello Amigo, and found themselves behind when Mario Bermejo converted a penalty after Rubén handled in the area. The unfortunate Rubén deflected Bermejo's cross past his own keeper on the half hour mark, and Bermejo rounded off a good night with a third goal for his side early in the second half. It was his thirteenth of the season, taking him above Aduriz and Llorente to the top of the second division Pichichi chart. (08.01.05)

Celta moved back to within a point of the top three after they beat Xerez 2-1 on Sunday lunchtime, extending their unbeaten run to eleven games. The Galicians took the lead midway through the first half when Sergio got on the end of Canobbio's cross to head past Tete, but the visitors should have equalised when Kekic hit the post and Mena somehow failed to turn the ball in to the net on the rebound from a yard out. Del Pino did level the scores later in the first half though after picking up a pass from Mena, and Fernando Vázquez threw on Gustavo López and Capucho to try and change things as the second progressed without scoring chances from either side. The game appeared to be heading for a draw though until Canobbio ran on to Oubiña's long ball in the dying minutes to beat the keeper and make it a third win in a row for his side. (09.01.04)

Cádiz extended their lead at the top of the table to four points after a 4-0 win over Pontevedra on Sunday evening. It was a flattering result though, as the Galicians held their own until Canabal was sent off for a second bookable offence a quarter of an hour from the end. Dani Navarrete put the locals in front in the eighth minute, the referee ruling that his shot had crossed the line before Moso pulled it back, but they had to wait until twenty minutes from the end before Pavoni headed a second goal from Oli's cross. With their opponents down to ten men Jonathan Sesma headed a third and then won a penalty which Manolo Pérez converted near the end. The Andalusians have now taken 25 points out of a possible 27, and look to be on track for a return to the top flight.

Alavés stay in second spot despite being held to a 1-1 draw by a Gimnastic Tarragona who have now gone nine games without defeat. Keepers Bonano and Valencia were both in action early on, the former saving from Cuéllar and the latter from Rubén Navarro, before Nené opened the scoring with a shot from right of goal on the half hour mark. The locals were left with ten men though when De Lucas was given a second yellow card for diving in the area, and the Catalans took advantage to equalise in the last few minutes when Diego Torres ran through to beat Bonano with a shot from the edge of the area.

Valladolid are just a point outside of the promotion spots though after beating Poli Ejido 0-3. All three goals came in the first half, Losada starting things off on the follow up after Kike couldn't hold on to a long free kick. The second came a few minutes later when Oscar Sánchez's shot from wide out was deflected by Carlos García past his own keeper, and Aduriz got the third close to the interval, again after the defence had failed to clear a free kick. The Valladolid players dedicated all three goals to their striker German Hornos, who was seriously injured in a car crash recently, although their actions of lifting their shirts to show a message on their T-shirts underneath cost them all a fine by the disciplinary committee.

Recreativo kept their hopes of promotion alive with a 3-0 win over Lleida, taking them up to eighth in the table just four points off the top three. After a dull first half, the turning point came just three minutes after the restart when Txema picked up a second booking, leaving the visitors with ten men. Xavi Jiménez took advantage of a hesitant defence to nip in and score soon afterwards, and Ramón got a second with a glancing header from Viqueira's long free kick which went through the hands of keeper Rangel. Uche made it three from the penalty spot after he himself was tripped in the area, and the Catalans ended the game with nine men after was Oscar also shown a second yellow card.

Sporting Gijón celebrated the start of their centenary year with a 1-0 victory over Almería. The crowd sang happy birthday as the Asturians came out, and there was a festival atmosphere as their side completely dominated the match. Ismael hit the post before finally beating Valerio after Pablo Alvarez set him up five minutes before the break. And Javi Fuego, Arturo, Alvarez and Ismael could all have added to the lead in the second half, the goalscorer in particular unlucky to see another shot hit the bar. The hosts were left with ten men though when Neru was shown a second yellow card, and Luna felt he should have had a penalty in the dying minutes as the visitors came looking for an equaliser. The defeat cost the job of Almería manager Castro Santos, who was fired the following day.

Real Murcia kept up their mini-revival with a 1-0 win against Eibar, and they are now only one point away from getting out of the relegation zone. The East coast side could have gone behind early on though when Marañon gave away a penalty, but Juanmi guessed right and saved Garitano's spot kick. With half an hour on the clock the visitors were left with ten men when Burgueña picked up a second caution, but they held on until the fourth minute of injury time, when Julio Alvarez bent a free kick into the top corner of the net to steal away the three points and leave the Basque side further away from the promotion spots without a win in six games. (09.01.04)