Joint leaders Real Murcia were surprisingly beaten 0-1 by Poli Ejido on Saturday evening, their first defeat in eleven matches. The locals were celebrating their last game at home after 82 years before moving to their new stadium, and they completely dominated the first half, with Kike saving from Aranda and Pedro León and Iván Alonso also trying their luck. León had another effort blocked by the defence after the restart, but with twenty minutes to go referee Pérez Pérez awarded a controversial penalty to the visitors after a foul by Ramón on Víctor Salas. Salas himself took the kick, and although Notario made the save, the ex Sevilla midfielder drove home the rebound. With three minutes to go there was another controversial decision when Antoñito had a goal disallowed, and the striker was shown a red card for protesting after the final whistle.

Third placed Salamanca were unable to catch Murcia though after being held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Elche. Quique Martín gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot after keeper Caballero fouled Braulio with just over a quarter of an hour gone, but Alfredo latched on to a clearance by Tete to volley home the equaliser three minutes before half time. Alfredo had a penalty claim turned down after the restart, but Braulio could have won it for Javi López's side had he not shot just wide in the final minutes.

Hércules continued their good run under new manager Josu Uribe with a 2-0 victory over Numancia. Moisés gave them the lead in only the third minute, heading in Graff's long throw, but after that the visitors took control, with Julio Alvarez going close before the break, and Juan Carlos Moreno and Fran Moreno (no relation) both hitting the woodwork after the restart. However with four minutes to go Montenegro latched on to a loose ball to score his side's second and give them their third win in a row.

Cádiz's new coach José González had a disappointing start though as his side could only draw 0-0 at home to Las Palmas, who are now are just a point away from getting out of the relegation spots. The only real effort anywhere near goal in the first 45 minutes was a shot over the top from Bezares, with Darino replying for the first time for the visitors five minutes after the break. Trashorras shot just wide and Medina missed an easy chance late on, but the only incident to get the crowd going was a bomb scare after the final whistle had gone.

Las Palmas have been outdistanced though by Real Madrid Castilla, who moved out of the relegation zone after beating ten man Lorca 2-0. Negredo hit the post early on, but the locals were on top until Xavi Moro was sent off for elbowing an opponent on the half hour mark. It wasn't until twelve minutes from the end though that Mata picked up a pass from Adrián to shoot in off the post, and the young striker set up Negredo two minutes later for him to wrap things up. (11.11.06)

Alavés and Albacete cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw on Sunday lunchtime. Both sides had chances early on, Wesley and Ogbeche for the locals and Parri for the visitors, before the Manchegans were awarded a penalty after Ferrón was brought down in the area. Parri converted the kick, and Albacete had a couple of opportunities to increase the lead after the break. But Alavés were given a penalty themselves when Jandro was brought down, and Jandro himself slotted it home to save a point.

Xerez moved three points clear at the top of the table after a 0-2 win in Tenerife later in the evening. Camuñas opened the scoring in the third minute, heading past Bernardo after Moreno headed back Luque's corner. But San Martín and Culebras both rattled the woodwork and Ayoze fired a shot just over the top as the Canary Islanders fought back before the break. Xerez ran down the clock though in the second half, and with the hosts throwing everything forward, Raúl Medina wrapped things up with a shot from outside of the area in the last minute.

Valladolid squeezed past Salamanca in to third spot after a 1-2 win over bottom club Vecindario. Mendilibar's side found themselves a goal down after Xisco converted an assist from Roberto Alvarez on the quarter hour mark. But Llorente took advantage of slack defending to equalise three minutes before the interval, and Víctor had a goal disallowed for offside before Alvaro Rubio got the winner with an effort which went in off a defender. This was Valladolid's sixth win in a row, including their double cup victory against Nàstic in the last few days.

Sporting Gijón are just two points behind Valladolid after a 0-3 win at Castellón, a result which leaves the home side down in the relegation spots. Congo opened the scoring for the Asturians midway through the first half, and both sides were left with ten men before the break after Andreu and then Xavi Moré were sent off. Tabares and Nakor both wasted chances to equalise after the restart, but Diego Castro made it two on the hour mark and michel rounded things off in the last minute.

Málaga could do no more than draw 1-1 at home to struggling Ponferradina, leaving the Andalusians in thirteenth place, just two points above the drop zone. Chengue Morales came on as substitute on the half hour mark, and within five minutes had got his name on the scoresheet after heading home Calleja's corner. Visiting keeper Rubio saved from Edgar and Valcarce before half time, but Risso levelled the scores after the restart from Jotha's cross, and despite having Fuentes sent off, Pereira could have won it for the visitors in the last minute.

Almería made it five home wins in a row with a 3-1 victory over Ciudad Murcia, taking them up to the top half of the table, level on points with their opponents. Michel got the first from the penalty spot after Ayoze brought down Ortíz with a quarter of an hour gone, and Bermejo added the second just two minutes after the restart. Bermejo hit the bar before Crusat made it three from a wide angle, and Goitom got a late consolation with a long shot which caught Westerveld off his line. (12.11.06)