Almería moved up to second in the table pending Thursday's results after beating Elche 2-0 on Wednesday evening, a result which extended their unbeaten run to seven games. Crusat opened the scoring early on following a set piece free kick, and then crossed in to make a second goal for Corona on the stroke of half time. Before the first goal Miguel should have beaten Westerveld, but otherwise the visitors hardly troubled the keeper and they ended the day further down in the drop zone.

Real Murcia are level with Almería on points though after a 3-2 victory over Málaga. Ramón turned in a corner in the twentieth minute to put the locals ahead, and Iván Alonso and Abel got two more in the next ten minutes to put the locals three up within half an hour. But Salva, probably playing his last game before a winter transfer, took advantage of a mistake by Notario to pull one back, and then got another in injury time to set up an exciting end to the game. It was Murcia's first win in seven games, and the first in their new stadium, whereas it was Málaga's first defeat in five.

Three goals in as many minutes midway through the first half ensured Salamanca a 0-3 win at bottom club Vecindario, taking them back up to fourth. Zé Tó turned in a Quique Martín cross to open the scoring, and Braulio got the second on a breakaway before Quique Martín fired in a long shot to make it three. Raúl Borrero missed a penalty for the locals after the restart but Susaeta could have increased the lead when he hit the woodwork near the end.

Numancia consolidate their position in the top half of the table with a 2-1 victory over Ciudad Murcia. Luque put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after Sietes fouled Saizar early in the second half, but Moreno equalised with an effort which went in off Raúl Sánchez, and Sánchez rounded off an unfortunate evening getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence three minutes later. Bolo headed the winner following a corner soon afterwards.

Cádiz moved up to ninth despite being held to another 0-0 draw by struggling Ponferradina, their fourth goal-less result in a row in the Ramón de Carranza stadium. Raúl López hit the bar for the visitors early on, but they were left with ten men when Bornes picked up a second booking with only just over a quarter of an hour gone. Numbers were evened up soon after the restart when Fleurquín was also shown a second yellow, and Asier Salcedo almost won it for Ponfe near the end.

Tenerife moved away from the danger zone with a much needed 3-2 win over Real Madrid Castilla. Pablo Sicilia headed home a corner to put the Islanders ahead ten minutes before the break, and Culebras and Ayoze added two more in the next six minutes. But Ayoze got himself sent off for a second bookable offence, and even though Negredo missed a penalty before the interval, Mata turned in Bueno's pass and Negredo headed another in a three minute period around the hour mark to give the home fans a scare.

Albacete drop below the Canary Islanders in the table after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poli Ejido. Parri put the locals ahead with an angled shot half an hour in to the game, but visiting keeper Kike produced some fine saves to prevent césar Ferrando's side from increasing the lead. And with the game in the last minute Diego Alegre got himself sent off after being booked for giving away a hotly disputed penalty, and Toedtli converted the kick to save a point for his side.

Lorca are deeper in trouble after losing 2-1 at Castellón, and they ended the day in next to bottom spot. With caretaker manager Leo López in charge pending the arrival of José María Salmerón, they found themselves behind when Mora scrambled in Xavi Moré's free kick late in the first half. Ramos equalised from the penalty spot after Dealbert fouled Català before the half time whistle, but Natalio fired home an impressive winner three minutes from the end. (20.12.06)

Valladolid ended the year four points clear at the top of the second division despite drawing 2-2 at Hércules on Thursday evening. Llorente put the visitors ahead after a passing move with Víctor in the 28th minute, his eleventh of the season taking him one clear of Salva at the top of the Pichichi chart. Turiel deflected in a Moisés free kick to equalise soon afterwards, but Víctor took advantage of a mistake by Schiavi to restore the lead before half time. It looked as if Medilibar's side were on for a win until the fourth minute of injury time, when ex Valladolid striker Tote latched on to a loose ball to level the scores once again.

Sporting Gijón moved up to third after beating Las Palmas 2-0, the first time they have won by two clear goals at home all season. Although Javi Fuego tried his luck in the first half, there were no goals until twenty minutes from the end, when Barral beat Pindado from a wide angle. A few minutes later though Diego Castro forced the ball over the line after the keeper parried an effort from Gerardo, and it was all over.

Xerez lose ground on the leaders after a 1-0 defeat at Alavés, where once again coach Chuchi Cos had to be protected from the home fans by the local police. Chances were few and far between in a dull game, the best a shot against the post by Bajic for the Andalusians in the second half, but Ogbeche settled it for the hosts with an angled shot past Julio Iglesias ten minutes from the end. (21.12.06)