Second placed Recreativo failed to overtake Xerez after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tenerife on Saturday evening. The Andalusians started well, Gastón Casas being stopped by Keleman as he advanced on goal and Xavi Jiménez having a goal disallowed for a dubious offside. But Cristian Alvarez put the Canary Islanders ahead from a set piece free kick on the half hour mark, and Cristo had a second goal ruled out for a previous foul. The home side were left with ten men soon after the restart when Toni Moral was shown a straight red card, and they ended the match with nine after César Belli was given a second booking with ten minutes to go. But they held on valiantly, and could even won by a bigger scoreline had Toño (who replaced the injured Luque in the second half) not saved well from Ayoze near the end.

Curiously all four games on Saturday ended with single goal victories, with Valladolid losing 0-1 to Albacete and dropping out of the top three as a result. Marcos Alonso's side have not won at home since the 23rd October, and although they had the better of the first half they could not get through a well ordered defence. And with a minute to go before half time the visitors took the lead when David Cañas scored from close up after Bizzarri failed to punch clear a corner. Alonso threw on Víctor and Tote in the second half to no avail, and although César Ferrando's side had Gato sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence, it was too late to take advantage.

Sporting Gijón have also not won in their Molinón stadium since early December, and they lost 0-1 to a Gimnastic Tarragona side who moved up in to the promotion spots pending Sunday's games. It was a boring match though, and neither keeper had any work to do until just before half time when Buades tested local keeper Roberto with a header. However four minutes after the restart Ekpoki got on the end of Cuéllar's cross to head home what was to be the only goal of the game, and although Biagini headed against the post later in the second half the Asturians were unable to prevent their opponents from making it six away wins in a row.

Elsewhere Roberto Soldado gave Real Madrid Castilla a 0-1 win against a Hércules side who have not won in nine games. The youngsters started well but were soon pegged back, Sisi going close with a long shot and Cámara shooting over with two colleagues better placed to score. Soldado limped off shortly before the break, but he was able to continue after the interval and with ten minutes to go got on the end of Balboa's cross to head low past Jimmy Schmidt. At the end of the game the local fans called for the head of coach Juan Carlos Mandía, who was nevertheless given the backing of his management the following day. (04.02.06)

Leaders Xerez were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Almería on Sunday lunchtime, a result which still kept them a point clear of Recreativo who were beaten the day before. Lucas Alcaraz's side had not won in three games, but they started strongly with Ismael forcing a good save out of Valerio and Pedro Ríos heading just wide midway through the first half. However the controversial sending off of Alex Fernández shortly before half time left them with a numerical disadvantage, and the visitors came close to taking the lead after the restart when Francisco failed to beat Julio Iglesias. The keeper turned another effort from Soriano against the post a few minutes later, and Michel also hit the woodwork for Paco Flores's side before they too were left with ten men after Manolo was sent off for a high kick on Ríos.

The failures of the top two to win meant that the gap behind the leaders has closed a little. Levante are now only five points behind Recre after they beat Racing Ferrol 2-1 on Sunday evening to move back to third place. Ian Harte opened the scoring for the Valencia based club from the penalty spot in the tenth minute after Bouchard was sent off for a foul on Reggi, and Riga came close to increasing the lead when he hit the bar with a free kick on the half hour mark. Beranger turned Ettien's cross past his own keeper to make it two before the break, and the hosts had numerous chances to extend their lead further after the restart. However with three minutes to go Cavallero turned a speculative shot from Joselito in to his own net to set up a nerve biting last few minutes for the fans.

Lorca are a surprise fourth, just a point behind Levante, after beating Elche 2-1. The Murcia based side took the lead in the twentieth minute when De Carlos headed home a cross from Alves, and it could have been more after Maldonado hit the post and Sava had a goal disallowed. The home side were left with ten men just four minutes in to the second half when Berruet picked up a second yellow card, but even so Ramos made it two from the penalty spot after De Carlos was fouled. The visitors were under new management, Julian Rubio watching from the stands after taking over from Yosu Uribe a couple of days earlier, but his side only managed to get one back in the last minute of normal time when Rubén beat Jauregui with a free kick. Lorca had Alves sent off, also for a second booking, just before the final whistle.

Meanwhile the relegation spots stay as they were after the bottom four all failed to win. In fact Eibar were the only one's who managed to pick up a point, their 0-0 draw with Real Murcia taking them up to twentieth. Despite the result it was a lively game with both sides creating chances on a muddy pitch, especially in the first half. Visiting striker Iván Alonso headed just wide early on and his cousin Diego brought a good save out of Etxeberría just before the break, and Juanmi was in action to keep out Juan Domínguez and Azkoitia at the other end in between. Julio Alvarez and Richi had the better chances for Murcia after the restart, but in the end the points were shared.

Poli Ejido have now been caught by Eibar after losing 1-0 at Lleida. The Almería based side had clearly come for a point, and the only scoring chance before the break came when visiting keeper Kike saved from Bilic. Santos headed home Dani Marín's cross though soon after the interval, and Nakor and Santos should both have increased the lead later on. But the Andalusians kept fighting to the end, and Marcos Navas came close to saving a point when he hit the post in the dying minutes.

Málaga B stay firmly anchored to the bottom after a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Ciudad Murcia. Abel Resino's side hadn't scored in four games, but they went ahead in the tenth minute when ex Málaga forward Paco Esteban headed past Manolo after Luque's free kick had been deflected off the bar. Saúl missed an easy chance to equalise, but Luque made it two after picking up a pass from Goitom. Mané got the third with a looping shot from midfield over the keeper before the break and after the visitors had Armando sent off with a straight red, Raúl Medina and Cuevas added two more in the first ten minutes of the second half.

Castellón stay in second to bottom spot after they were beaten 2-1 by Numancia, who move away from the danger zone after five games without defeat under new manager Andoni Goikoetxea. The Soria based side took the lead with a Montenegro penalty in the tenth minute after Torrecilla fouled Azkorra, but Fukuda could have scored at the other end before Jonan García equalised, again from the penalty spot after Otxoa fouled Pedro Hernández. Azkorra headed a Montenegro cross past Oliva though just two minutes in to the second half to give his side victory. (05.02.06)