Recreativo moved to the top of the table pending Sunday's games with a 1-2 win at Real Madrid Castilla. The home side were looking to build on their six game unbeaten run, with Miguel Angel Portugal taking over the reins for Juan Ramón López Caro after he was promoted to the first team. But a bad clearance from Rubénon the quarter hour mark let in Aitor for him to open the scoring with a long shot. Jurado and Adrián Martín brought first class saves out of Luque either side of half time as the youngsters went looking for the equaliser, but the Andalusians went further ahead fifteen minutes in to the second half when Dani Bautista set up Uche for his tenth of the season. Javi García pulled one back with a long shot soon afterwards, but Castilla were left with ten men a couple of minutes later when Barral was sent off for retaliating.

Hércules lost ground on the leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Racing Ferrol. The Alicante based side dominated the first half, and after Navarrete and Borreguero both went close, Kike Mateo picked up a pass from Cámara to beat Bouchard and put his side in front. The Galicians didn't have a shot at goal until Juan Carlos tested Sergio Sánchez before the break, but they improved in the second half after manager Juan Veiga manager made a couple of key substitutions. And with a quarter of an hour Juan Carlos equalised after a De Palmas free kick was blocked, taking Racing out of the bottom four for 24 hours at least. (10.12.05)

Last week's leaders Xerez were surprisingly beaten 1-2 by Elche on Sunday lunchtime, and as a result failed to win back top spot from Recreativo. Camuñas headed the Andalusians into the lead following a corner midway through the first half, but Julio Iglesias had to save from a Nino header almost immediately. And just two minutes later Pere Martí got on the end of a Raúl Ivars corner to head home the equaliser. Xerez had a chance to go ahead soon after the restart when Noguerol gave away a penalty on Mendoza, but Unanua guesses right to block García Granero's spot kick, his first penalty save in 17 years as a professional. Let off the hook the visitors got the winner just four minutes from the end when Nino and Alberto combined to set up Rubén Suárez, a win which takes Yosu Uribe's side up to fourth pending the evening's games. (11.12.05)

The top two open up a four point gap over the rest though as third placed Valladolid were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Eibar. Both keepers were in action early on, Exteberría saving from Sousa and Bizzarri keeping out Borrell. The visitors though were clearly happy to defend and look for the breakaway, and under pressure Carlos Terrazas put on an extra defender at half time. Etxeberría saved again from Llorente soon after the restart, and Marcos Alonso threw on Tote and Losada, who both had chances. But when the referee turned down an injury time penalty appeal by Aduritz it was all over, and although the locals keep up their twelve match unbeaten run, they were less than happy to drop two more points at home.

Levante moved back up the table to fourth, just a point now behind Valladolid, after a 0-1 win at Tenerife. The Canary Islanders had not won for nine games, but they started well, William shooting just wide, Cristian Alvarez testing Cavallero, and Ian Harte clearing off the line from Toni Moral with the keeper beaten. Congo tested Bernardo before the break though, and ten minutes after the restart ex Tenerife defender Alexis got on the end of Harte's corner to head his side into the lead. The home side threw everything forward looking for the equaliser, but Manchev could have increased the lead when he headed against the bar near the end.

Sporting Gijón are in sixth spot after they won 1-0 against Lorca, and the Asturians have clocked up 14 points in their last six games. Ciriaco Cano's side spent the first quarter of an hour in their opponents' half, but they couldn't create any clear cut chances and were almost caught out on the counterattack, Roberto having to be at his best to keep out Alves and Sava. Calandria scored what was to be the only goal though midway through the first half with a long run from the halfway line, but Alexandre wasted a last minute opportunity to level the scores when he shot over the top with the goal at his mercy.

After last weekend's high scoring round of games, this weekend was one of the lowest, with only four goals being scored in the seven games which kicked off on Sunday afternoon. As well as the match at Valladolid, there were two other 0-0 draws, one of which came in the game between bottom club Castellón and struggling Albacete. The locals have improved though under Pepe Moré, and Jonan García came close to giving them the lead when his first half header was saved by Rubén Martín. The keeper also kept out an effort from Mora immediately after the restart, and Moré's son Xavi missed another good chance. The best effort from the visitors came near the end when Alvaro fired a shot just over the bar.

A 0-0 result as well and between Numancia and Real Murcia, where new coach Andoni Goikoetxea was in charge of the Soria based side for the first time since his return to the club this week in place of the sacked Enrique Martín. Visiting striker Richi tested Juan Pablo in the opening minutes, but Casuco's side were left with ten men when Corona was sent off for a hard tackle on Azkorra with less than a quarter of an hour on the clock. The home side were unable to take advantage though, and Richi was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed soon afterwards. Julio Alvarez also went close a couple of times after the restart, and Numancia's only reply was a couple of late efforts from Pineda.

Almería lost pace on the top teams after they were beaten 0-1 by Gimnastic Tarragona. Paco Flores's side started the weekend in fourth place, but they fell behind midway through the first half when a shot from Carlos Merino took a deflection off Acasiete to wrong foot Valerio. The keeper did well to keep out Cuéllar a few minutes later, and had to make saves from Francisco, Ismael and Bolo after the restart as the visitors kept up the attack. Francisco and Ortíz tested Alvaro at the other end, but they could do nothing to stop their side falling to their first home defeat of the season.

Almería's neighbours Poli Ejido moved out of the relegation zone though after they won 0-1 at Ciudad Murcia. José Salmerón's side came out of the starting blocks with a vengeance, Víctor Salas and Keko both putting Jaime to the test before Pedro Largo played on Calado's corner for Tena to head his side in front in the eleventh minute. Pedro Vega, Toedtli and Salas all had opportunities to extend the lead in the second half, and Ciudad only threatened Kike's goal with a couple of late efforts from Luque and Goitom. (11.12.05)

Next to bottom side Lleida beat Málaga B 0-1 on Monday evening thanks to a late strike by Croatia's Bilic. The home team hardly managed a shot at goal all night, and the Catalans could have taken the lead beforehand, especially when local keeper Javi Muñoz turned a Marín free kick on to the bar in the second half. The result leaves Castellón four points adrift at the bottom of the table, and takes the Catalan's to the verge of climbing out of the relegation zone. Only one point separates six teams, with the South coast team now well and truly involved in the struggle to avoid the drop. (12.12.05)