Sporting Gijón's poor recent run finally came to an end when they beat Almería 1-0 on Saturday evening, their first victory in eleven games. Despite fielding a depleted side, the Asturians had the better of the first half, with David Karanka and Pablo Alvarez going close early on. And Alvarez gave them the lead when he headed home Gerardo's corner shortly before the break. Paco Flores's side pushed forward after the restart and came close to equalising when the strong wind almost carried a clearance by keeper Valerio into his opponents' goal, but Roberto just managed to turn the ball away for a corner. And Galca did get the ball in the net with a long free kick in injury time only for it to be ruled out by the referee as the kick was indirect.

Tenerife's disappointing season continued though after they were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation candidates Castellón. The Canary Islanders were on top early on, with Toni Moral and Cristo both missing good chances. But even when Dealbert was sent off for the visitors midway through the second half they could make no further headway until Cristo won a penalty which Cristian Alvarez converted a quarter of an hour from the end. Héctor had a goal disallowed at the other end though and Torrecilla went just wide before Raúl Sánchez saved a point with an injury time penalty.

Racing Ferrol and Real Murcia also shared the points in a 2-2 draw on a rainy night at the A Malata stadium. Despite the terrible conditions the referee decided to allow the game to go on, and Juan Carlos put the Galicians ahead with a wide free kick which bounced past Juanmi in only the third minute of the game. Iban Cuadrado scrambled the ball home from Pablo Sierra's cross to equalise ten minutes later, but Pezzarossi headed against the post before restoring the lead from Beranger's cross close to half time. Acciairi could have equalised again when he hit the post a few minutes after the restart, but with eight minutes to go Iban Cuadrado got on the end of Pedro Léon's centre to level the scores once again.

A 0-0 draw as well between Lleida and Elche, a result which doesn't help either side in their respective objectives, the former to avoid relegation and the latter to win promotion. The wet conditions didn't help, and there were very few chances throughout the match. The Catalans could have scored before the interval when Juanlu brought a good save out of Aragoneses and then when Santos headed against the woodwork. Santos put another chance wide after the restart, but the visitors couldn't take advantage, Toledo rounding the keeper but failing to find the target and Rangel saving from Raúl Martín near the end.

Second placed Xerez were unable to play their match at Hércules after most of the squad suffered an attack of gastric enteritis, possible due to food poisoning during their stay at a hotel in Alicante. It was the second game in a row that Hércules were unable to play after last weekend's match at Numancia was postponed due to a heavy snowfall, and the match has been rescheduled for 3rd May (later changed to 5th April). (04.03.06)

Leaders Recreativo fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lorca on Sunday lunchtime, throwing the promotion race even wider open. With winds gusting at up to 80 Kph in their favour during the first half, the visitors took the lead when Gastón Casas got on the end of Bautista's cross in the sixth minute. The hosts equalised though on the quarter hour mark when Maldonado converted Jorge Sánchez's cross, and Ramos and De Carlos both went close soon afterwards. The turning point came though ten minutes before the break when Cheli was sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Maldonado in the area, and Sava stepped up to convert the resulting penalty. Marcelino threw on all his fire power after the restart, but when Viqueira's free kick hit the bar in injury time it was all over. The win takes the Murcia based side up to second place, now just two points behind their opponents.

Levante and Gimnastic Tarragona are both level with Lorca on points though after drawing 1-1 later in the evening, and just three points now separate the top five sides. The locals took the lead midway through the half when Javi Rodríguez headed over Rubén after Sandro's free kick was deflected up in to the air. The Catalans though had won their last seven away games, and they equalised with a hotly disputed penalty after Alexis pushed Diego Torres from behind after the interval, Ismael converting the kick twice after the referee ordered a retake. Levante keeper Cavallero had to be at his best to keep out Torres soon afterwards, but Mané's side could have won it in the dying minutes when N'Diaye's long shot hit the bar.

Meanwhile Valladolid got themselves back in the promotion race with a 1-0 win over Real Madrid Castilla, and they ended the weekend in seventh spot. The game got off to an electric start, Soldado hitting the bar in only the second minute and Adrián Martín bringing a good save out of Jacobo, and Tote and Llorente replying for the hosts. Alfredo Merino's side were left with ten men when Sousa was sent off for a kick on Jurado on the stroke of half time, but the new coach made a double change at the break and within six minutes Llorente had given them the lead with a long shot. Negredo rattled the woodwork soon afterwards, but the hosts held on for their first win in the Nueva Zorrilla stadium since 23rd October.

Ciudad Murcia lost ground on the leading group though after a 0-1 defeat against a Numancia side who have now gone eight games without defeat. The visitors took the lead with a quarter of an hour on the clock when Tevenet converted a penalty after Iván Amaya handled in the area. Juan Pablo kept out efforts from Goitom at the other end either side of half time, and then saved a Luque penalty after referee Gardeazábal Gómez ruled that Antonio had fouled the Swedish striker. The official upset the local fans in the last minute of the game though when he ruled out a goal by Goitom for a previous foul, and home team coach Abel Resino was shown the red card for protesting.

Poli Ejido are also moving away from the danger zone after a 2-0 win over Albacete, who are starting to run out of steam again after a good run at the beginning of the new year. The Manchegans got off to a good start, Juanlu hitting the bar in the first minute and Bermejo failing to find the target. But shortly before half time Toedtli got on the end of Pedro Vega's cross following a corner to head his side in to the lead, the referee waving away claims for a foul by the striker. Both sides could have scored after the restart, but with four minutes to go Pedro Vega wrapped things up when he beat Rubén Martín with a well struck free kick.

The bottom two Eibar and Málaga B did themselves no favours though with a 1-1 draw, and both remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table. The Basque side went ahead when Juan Domínguez fired a shot into the top corner of the net midway through the first half, and Gorka Brit (making his debut after moving on loan from Osasuna) should have extended the lead five minutes later when he won himself a penalty after Torrejón brought him down. However Nauzet guessed correctly to save his spot kick, and there was no further score until well in to injury time in the second half, when late substitute Boselli headed a last gasp equaliser for the Andalusians. (05.03.06)

Xerez got their promotion hopes back on track after a 0-3 win over Hércules in this match which was postponed from last month due to the illness of the visiting players. Lucas Alcaraz's side opened the scoring through Dani Pendín late in the first half, and Castaño made it two on the hour mark with a controversial strike after referee Clos Gómez waved away appeals for a previous foul by Granero on Castro. The locals were left with nine men when Urbano and then keeper Sergio Sánchez were sent off for second bookable offences, and Pedro Ríos beat stand in keeper Turiel near the end to give his side their first win in twelve games and take them up to fifth in the table. (05.04.06)