Xerez moved three points clear at the top of the table pending Sunday's games after a controversial 1-1 draw at Almería. The locals had taken the lead in the first half when Crusat picked up Michel's pass to beat Julio Iglesias. Things looked worse when De Coz was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half, and visiting coach Pepe Murcia had to be escorted off the pitch by the police after he too was shown a red card by referee Mateu Lahoz. But incredibly Mateu sent off four Almería players in the last ten minutes, Mané, Bruno, Crusat and finally keeper Westerveld for giving away a penalty, and with an outfield player in goal, substitute Jorge Luque converted the kick in the 97th minute of the match.

Sporting Gijón failed to move up into the top three after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Alavés, thanks in part to a good performance by the home side's new goalkeeper Porató. The Frenchman had been signed in a hurry to cover for the injured Bonano and Ardouin, and he was called into action to keep out Omar and Barral before the break, and Pedro after the restart. Visiting keeper Roberto was also tested though by De Lucas and Gabri near the end.

Elsewhere Numancia moved away from the danger zone with a 1-3 win at Albacete. Sergio Ortega headed them in to the lead on the quarter hour mark, and Bolo made it two on a quick breakaway midway through the first half. Ortega got his second of the night on the hour mark to make it three, and a couple of minutes later completed a strange "hat-trick" when he put through his own net.

There were victories as well for three sides occupying spots in the relegation zone, including Castellón, who moved clear of the bottom four completely after a 2-0 win over Ciudad Murcia. The locals appeared to be up against it when Rodri was sent off ten minutes before the break, but numbers were evened up when Torrecilla picked up a second booking soon after the restart. And Tavares won it for the hosts with two in the last half hour, the first from a Pedro Hernández pass and the second on a counter-attack.

Bottom club Vecindario beat fellow strugglers Ponferradina 1-0, only their third win all season. Young striker Xisco missed a couple of chances early on, but finally fired a shot past Rubio seven minutes from the end. The Canary Islanders had to hold on at the end though after Raúl Borrero was shown a second yellow card.

Elche moved to within two points of escaping the drop zone after a 0-2 win at Real Madrid Castilla, the second match in a row that they have taken the three points. Agus put through his own net three minutes before half time to put the visitors ahead with a little help from Tebar, and Gomis made it two with an angled shot a quarter of an hour from the end. Castilla ended with ten men after Bueno was sent off in injury time. (25.11.06)

Valladolid share the lead with Xerez after beating Real Murcia 1-4 on Sunday lunchtime. The locals were playing their first game in the new Condomina stadium, but it was visiting striker Llorente who headed the ground's first official goal from alvaro Rubio's cross early on. Iván Alonso headed an equaliser from Jofre's centre, but Víctor converted a penalty after Llorente was felled by Ochoa, and Peña was sent off on the stroke of half time. Llorente got a third soon after the restart, and Alberto saved an Iván Alonso penalty at the other end after Vicente brought down the striker. Capdevila made it four for the visitors, and Alberto made his second penalty save of the night before the end, this time from Antoñito after Iñaki Bea fouled Alonso. The defeat left Lucas Alcaraz's side a point adrift of the promotion spots.

Salamanca stay in third spot despite a 1-0 defeat at Málaga later in the evening, a result which takes the pressure off the Andalusians who were hovering on the brink of the relegation zone without a win since the end of September. The visitors had Braulio sent off just four minutes in to the second half, and half time substitute Salva got the only goal on the hour mark following a Jesús Gámez throw in. It was also a first victory for new coach Juan Ramón Muñiz.

Poli Ejido lost ground on the leaders after they drew 0-0 at Cádiz, although they must be thankful for a point after playing the last hour with ten men following the much protested sending off of Sunny. Visiting keeper Kike was the hero of the night, in particular with late saves from De Paula and Vella, and Acuña and Fleurquín also had good chances blocked by the Poli defence.

Tenerife also shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Lorca, a result which kept both just outside of the drop zone. Frankowski opened the scoring for the Canary Islanders after Raúl Sánchez set him up with a header midway through the first half. Català headed home Iván Anía's cross to level the scores twenty minutes from the end, but Culebras almost won it for the hosts when he hit the bar in injury time.

A 1-1 draw as well between Hércules and Las Palmas, a result which still leaves the Canary Islanders down in the bottom four, even though they are only two points behind their opponents, who are in eighth spot. Juanlu had given the locals the lead with an impressive volley at the midpoint of the first half, but Marcos Márquez equalised for the visitors just before half time, and Nauzet could have given them the three points if he had been able to beat Aragoneses later on. (26.11.06)