Closer than ever at the top of the second division this weekend, with only one point separating the top seven sides after Saturday's matches. Tenerife move up into the top three after a 0-1 win at Numancia, level on points with Xerez and Murcia who play on Sunday. Raúl Sánchez got what was to prove the only goal from the penalty spot late in the first half after Tarantino brought down Cristo Marrero, but Juan Carlos Moreno missed a chance to level the scores when Bernardo saved a second penalty after Bolo was fouled by Culebras soon after the restart. And the visiting keeper ensured the three points with another important save from Bolo's header near the end.

Sporting Gijón are just a point behind Tenerife though after beating bottom club Vecindario 1-0. The Canary islanders came looking for the draw, and they only allowed the Asturians one real chance in the first half, Keleman saving from Barral. Roberto kept out Michel at the other end after the restart, but Congo finally broke the ice on the hour mark after Barral's shot was deflected. The visitors felt themselves unlucky though when the referee decided to only show a yellow card to the local keeper after he brought down Xisco outside of the area as he advanced on goal later on.

A 1-0 victory as well for Valladolid against Lorca, Mendilibar's side joining four other teams just three points behind the leaders. Llorente got the only goal on the quarter hour mark after Sisi won the ball close to goal, and the locals could have won by a bigger margin had Alvaro not hit the bar and Borja missed a sitter in the second half.

Elsewhere Poli Ejido came from behind to beat Elche 2-1, a result which leaves the visitors further down in the relegation zone. Luis García's side took the lead on the stroke of half time when Peragón beat Kike, but just two minutes in to the second half Raúl Martín was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Toedtli took advantage to equalise with a header from Paco Esteban's cross a few minutes later. Esteban himself headed the second just four minutes later, and although the ex Málaga forward was sent off in injury time, the game was already over. (07.10.06)

Xerez are two points clear at the top of the table once again after beating Ponferradina 3-1. The Andalusians were keen to get back on track after losing at Lorca last week, and Luque hit the bar directly from a corner before Arruabarrena gave them the lead following a team passing move five minutes before the break. Pedro Ríos got on the end of a Camuñas cross to make it two with just under an hour gone, and Arruabarrena scored his second of the night after Moreno set him up before Rubén Vega got a late consolation for the visitors in injury time.

Real Murcia stay in second place despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Albacete later on Sunday evening. Both sides have had a better start to the season this year, but it was the hosts who took the initiative in the first half without creating any clear cut chance. Iván Alonso could have put the visitors ahead when he headed against the post soon after the restart, but other than a Pedro León free kick which Valbuena kept out, and a late run by Aranda which was ruled out for offside, there were few opportunities at either end.

Ciudad Murcia join their city neighbours in the promotion spots after beating last week's fourth placed side Málaga 2-0. Gibanel put the home side in front early on with a shot in off the bar, and Luque brought a good save out of Arnau before scoring the second with an angled shot after beating two defenders later in the first half. Salva and Hidalgo both tested Jaime after the restart, but even when their opponents were left with nine men after Falcón and Cristian Diaz were sent off with ten minutes to go Marcos Alonso's side were unable to score.

Salamanca missed out on a chance of moving up in to the top three after they were beaten 1-2 at home by Castellón, the first points they have dropped in the Helmantico stadium. Zé Tó hit the bar though before the visitors took the lead through Xavi Moré in the sixth minute, and Carlos Vela had a goal disallowed for offside before the break. Tortolero also hit the bar after the restart, but local keeper Felip was sent off with twenty minutes to go for handling outside the area, and Natalio got a second past substitute keeper Tete before Vela pulled one back late on.

Alavés moved back to within two points of the promotion spots with a 1-0 victory over Almería. The Vitoria based side hadn't scored in their last two matches, but Astudillo had a goal ruled out for offside and Rubén Navarro hit the bar with a free kick in the first half. Bonano saved from Ortíz and Lacen cleared off the line from Crusat at the other end either side of half time, and Westerveld kept out Ogbeche before Pablo Casar headed home Jandro's corner five minutes from the end.

A De Paula strike gave Cádiz a 0-1 win over Hércules, saving the head of coach Oli but putting his opposite number Bordalás back into the firing line. Both sides had lost their last three league matches, but the locals had won in the cup midweek and Moisés and Kike Mateo in particular put Armando to the test in the first quarter of an hour. Sesma got free on a rapid breakaway though to set up the ex Real Sociedad striker midway through the first half, and despite having Fleurquín sent off near the end they held on for three valuable points.

Las Palmas edged out of the drop zone to the detriment of Real Madrid Castilla, who they beat 2-1. With Adán on under 21 duty, Codina returned in the visiting goal, and he was called upon to make several saves early on. Negredo put Michel's side ahead against the run of play from Valero's pass, but Marcos Márquez equalised before half time after good work by Nauzet. Castilla were left with ten men with a quarter of an hour to go when Agus was shown a second yellow card, and Fredy headed the winner from Nauzet's cross a few minutes later. (08.10.06)