Leaders Celta were beaten 0-1 by struggling Ciudad Murcia on Saturday night, although they still remain four points clear of Alavés pending their game on Sunday. The visitors packed their defence right from the start, and Fernando Vázquez's side could not find a way through. And ten minutes before half time their opponents got what was to be the only goal of the game on a quick breakaway, Luque finishing off after Contreras blocked a shot from Güiza. Vázquez threw on Jesús Perera and Sava in the second half to join Vryzas, but the Greek striker in particular wasted more than a couple of chances to level the scores. And Güiza could have increased the lead had Pinto not kept him out near the end, a few minutes before Jonathan was sent off for a second bookable offence to leave the locals with ten men. It was a night to forget for the Galicians, who were beaten for the second game in a row. Ciudad were delighted though, and the win takes them, for 24 hours at least, out of the relegation zone.

It could have been worse for Celta though had fourth placed Eibar not lost 3-2 at Gimnastic Tarragona. The Catalans took the lead in the third minute, Diego Torres finishing off after Bolo headed on a corner, but the Basque took advantage of the temporary absence of Marcos (who was being treated on the touchline) to score twice in a minute shortly before the interval, Suárez crashing a free kick past Valencia and Garitano adding a second with an angled shot. Fagoaga was sent off though for elbowing Bolo in the penalty area just a couple of minutes in to the second half, Diego Torres transforming the resulting penalty. And Torres came close to getting his hat-trick before veteran striker Pinilla headed the winner from a corner with the game already in injury time.

Real Murcia extended their unbeaten run to seven games, although their 2-2 draw at home to bottom club Pontevedra wasn't the result they were looking for to take them totally safe. Julio Alvarez opened the scoring for Casuco's side on the quarter hour mark, but Capdevila equalised a few minutes later on the follow up after Juanmi tipped a Rubén Reyes free kick onto the post. By then the visitors were outplaying their opponents, and Charles put them in front with a spectacular scissors kick from Rubén Reyes's cross a quarter of an hour in to the second half. But Iván Alonso saved a point when he headed home Julio Alvarez's free kick later on to take his side up to thirteenth in the table and leave the Galicians still six points away from safety.

Racing Ferrol also edged a little closer to ensuring they stay up with a 2-2 draw against Tenerife. The naval port side threw everything forward right from the start, visiting keeper Alvaro Iglesias doing well to save from second division Pichichi Mario Bermejo. But an awful clearance from Alvaro gifted a first goal to Granon midway through the first half, and Bermejo headed home his 24th goal of the season from Granon's corner before half time. Local manager Juan Veiga pulled his men back in the second half though, and the Canary Islanders took advantage to pull a goal back when Bombarda headed past Bello Amigo five minutes from the end. And in the fifth minute of injury time Edu Moya equalised with a shot from the edge of the area to keep the visitors in eighth spot in the table.

Málaga B moved five points clear of the relegation spots, an early Calderón penalty giving them a much needed 1-0 win over Elche. The goal came after keeper Caballero brought down Paco Esteban in the area, and Esteban went close to increasing the lead a couple of times later in the first half. Rubén brought a good save out of Goitia at the other end with a free kick though, and Nino got past the keeper only to miss the target with the goal gaping in front of him. The pace slowed right down after the restart though, and only a free kick from half time substitute Moisés caused any further problems for the local keeper. (14.05.05)

Cádiz closed up to within two points of Celta after they humiliated Valladolid 6-1 on Sunday lunchtime. It didn't look as if it would be that clear cut in the first half though, and although Fleurquín headed the Andalusians into an early lead from Sesma's cross, Jairo Castillo equalised after good work from Víctor. Esteban set up Pavoni for him to restore the advantage on the quarter hour mark, but Castillo tested Armando after the restart before Oli scored his side's third from a Manolo Pérez free kick. A couple of minutes later though Víctor Espárrago brought on Mirosavljevic, and with the opponents pushing forward the big Serbian striker scored the easiest of hat-tricks in the next half hour, and could have added another when he hit the post. The 20,000 crowd celebrated with the Mexican wave, convinced now that their side are on their way back to the top flight.

Alavés kept up their push for a return to the top flight, moving to within a point of Celta after beating Poli Ejido 2-0 on Sunday evening. They left it late though, and the visitors came close to taking the lead in the first half when Bonano and the woodwork stopped Pedro Vega and Corona from scoring. Corona hit the post again after the restart, and the home side were unable to make any impact on Pepe Mel's well organised defence until Sergio Santamaría came on for the last half hour. The ex Barcelona and Oviedo winger revitalized his side and set up Bodipo for him to beat Kike just seven minutes from the end. And with the game in injury time new signing David Sánchez transformed a penalty after Carlos García handled in the area to give his side a sixth straight win in a row.

Recreativo are not out of the running though after they came from behind to beat Terrassa 2-1 in the last minute, keeping the Huelva based side within four points of the promotion spots. The visitors were the better side from the start, and took the lead with a quarter of an hour gone when Monty headed Besora's cross past Luque. And after that they decided to keep control, not allowing their opponents near David Valle's goal. Quique Hernández threw on more forwards without much avail, and the crowd were starting to get on the players' backs before Uche finally won the ball off Nené and ran on to score ten minutes from the end. And in the second minute of injury time Azkorra headed the winner after good work by Aitor and Angel Rodríguez to leave the Catalans further down in the drop zone.

Down at the lower end of the table, Córdoba kept alive their hopes of salvation with a 0-3 win over fellow strugglers Salamanca, who themselves have only picked up two points from their last seven games. Cristian Alvarez was the hero of the night for the visitors, and he almost caught out Tom with a long free kick early in the first half. Anderson opened the scoring for the Andalusians a few minutes later though with a shot from outside of the area, and Alvarez latched on to a loose ball to make it two before half time. And the on-loan Racing Santander full back got his second of the night directly from an inswinging corner on the hour mark, taking his side to within two points of their opponents and three away from safety.

Almería are only three points above the drop zone after they could only draw 1-1 with Lleida. Paco Flores included his new signing from Getafe, Michel, in his starting line up, but they were over-run at the beginning by the Catalans, who went in front when Oscar Rubio headed home Crusat's cross in the sixteenth minute. Ibán Espadas equalised on the hour mark when he got the final touch to Galca's corner as it was entering the net, but things went pear-shaped for the locals when keeper Valerio was sent off for bringing down Arnal in the penalty area near the end. With all three changes made, full back Cervian went in goal, but to everyone's surprise he saved Arnal's spot kick. The forward was so upset he had to be substituted, leaving the field in tears. His side are fairly safe though, the point keeping them five points above their opponents.

Sporting Gijón and Xerez are already sure of second division football next season, and with nothing more to play for their game ended in a dull 0-0 draw. The only point of note in an otherwise event-less first half was a possible penalty on Dorado by Gerard which the referee ruled was outside of the area, and in the second half the crowd only applauded once, when local defender Isma re-appeared on the field of play for the first time in three years after recovering from a career threatening injury. If anything the Asturians came closer to scoring, although neither keeper had much work at all. (15.05.05)