Gimnastic Tarragona came from behind to beat leaders Real Murcia 3-1 on Saturday evening, putting an end to their visitors' eight game unbeaten record. The Catalans themselves had suffered three defeats in a row, and when Julio Alvarez's corner was turned in by Richi on the half hour mark it looked like they were in for a fourth, especially as their opponents had only let in three goals all season. But Ismael picked up a pass from Bolo to equalise before the break, and ten minutes after the restart Carlos Merino caught Juanmi off guard with a long shot to put his side ahead. Diego Torres completed the scoreline in the closing minutes after the keeper could only push out Codina's centre, taking Nàstic away from the danger zone.

Hércules moved up to third pending Sunday's games after a 3-2 win over Sporting Gijón. The visitors took the lead in the tenth minute when Biagini got on the end of Dorado's cross to beat Moso, but Juanmi turned Quique Mateo's cross past his own keeper to level the scores soon afterwards. Sporting keeper Roberto kept out shots from Mora and Sisi before the break, and Jeffrey found Biagini early in the second half for him to restore the lead. But Toché came on to equalise again with a back-heel within seconds of making his appearance, and Moisés got the winner later on with a free kick which went in off the crossbar.

Promotion hopefuls Levante were beaten heavily though, their 5-1 defeat at Almería leaving coach José Luis Oltra on the verge of being fired. The home side had not won in three games, but they took the lead in the fifth minute when Acasiete got on the end of Lozano's free kick to score. Carmelo equalised a quarter of an hour later after picking up a pass from Sandro, but Luna put the locals back in front after Alexis blocked a shot from Francisco. The visitors came close to squaring the match again either side of half time, in partivcular with a shot from Ian Harte which Valerio pushed on to the post, but Ortíz picked up a rebound to make it three, and Francisco and Ortíz added two more later on for the final scoreline.

Tenerife also lost ground on the leaders after losing 3-0 at Ciudad Murcia. All the goals came in the first half, with Goitom starting things off on the quarter hour mark after pcking up a pass from Rivero. Maikel hit the bar at the other end, but Luque beat Keleman with a shot from outside of the area ten minutes before the break and a minute later set up Goitom for the third. The visitors had a chance to come back when Mané brought down Marrero in the area after the restart, but Fagiani blasted the resulting penalty over the bar. And the Canary Islanders were left with nine men when Kiriam and Maikel were sent off later in the second half. (29.10.05)

Xerez held on to top spot in the table despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Valladolid on Sunday lunchtime. It was a match dominated by the two defences, the only efforts of note in the first half a header by local striker Geijo which Bizzarri handled without too much difficulty and a shot from Aduríz at the other end which failed to beat Julio Iglesias. The locals pushed forward after the break, Bizzarri saving well from Mendoza and Souza. But in the end both sides settled for a point which leaves the Andalusians one clear of their nearest rivals and the visitors three points behind them in fifth spot.

Racing Ferrol are clear of the bottom four after a 0-1 victory at Málaga B in another match which kicked off at mid-day. The home side were looking for only their second home win of the season, and Abel hit the crossbar in the fifth minute. But Javi Muñoz had to save from Grañon, and Héctor gave the Galicians the lead close to half time after the local defence allowed him time to find his spot. The second half was one way traffic as Racing sat back to defend their lead, and although the hosts hit the woodwork again they could not find a way past Bouchard. The defeat leaves Málaga B down in the relegation zone.

Xerez are only one point clear though of Recreativo, who beat promotion rivals Elche 2-0 on a rainy Sunday evening. The Andalusians dominated the early play, and top scorer Uche put his side ahead, getting to the ball ahead of keeper Unanua after Barber's shot got stuck in a puddle of water. Frankowski hit the post at the other end, but three minutes before the break Uche got his second of the night and his ninth this season after Viqueira's kick slipped out of the hands of the keeper. The win takes Marcelino's side into second place, above Murcia on goal average.

Albacete also gave their promotion hopes a boost with a 1-0 win against Lleida. The locals had lost some ground after two defeats in a row, and there was little action at either end before Aranda took advantage of a lack of concentration by Bruno and keeper Rangel close to half time to barge through and score, the referee turning down claims by the visitors that the striker had fouled the keeper on his way to goal. Santos came close to equalising a couple of times after the break, bt it was not to be and the Catalans fell to their sixth defeat in a row.

Lleida are now only one place above bottom club Castellón, who sacked manager Juan José Martín Delgado after drawing 0-0 at home to Lorca. The East coast side had the better of the first half but couldn't beat Jauregui, and Marcos and Raúl Sánchez both wasted chances soon after the restart. The visitors could have won it though as they took control in the second half, Ramos, De Carlos and Alexandre all failing to beat Raúl Jiménez in the local goal.

Real Madrid Castilla climbed out of the relegation spots after a 2-0 win against Poli Ejido, who themselves drop down into the bottom four. Roberto Soldado came back from first team duty to score both the goals, and give his side their first win at their new stadium in Valdebebas. Soldado, Balboa and Javi García all went close in the first half, but local keeper Cobeño had to save from Toedtli before the young striker got on the end of Adrián Martín's cross to open the scoring a quarter of an hour after the restart. Poli were left with ten men when Cristian was sent off for a foul on Arbeloa, and Soldado wrapped things up after Felipe set him up in the last minute.

Numancia are only a point above the drop zone though after losing 1-2 to ten man Eibar, who overtake them in the table. Both keepers were in action in a lively first half, but the first goal didn't come until after the break when Juan Carlos Moreno picked up a pass from Tevenet to beat Etxeberría. César was sent off for the visitors after picking up a second booking, but Iñigo headed the equaliser just a minute after coming on. Azkoitia fired a penalty into the stands near the end after Rubén fouled Jaime, but the midfielder made up for it with the winning goal a couple of minutes later. (30.10.05)