Real Murcia beat promotion rivals Cádiz 1-0 on Saturday evening to consolidate second spot pending Sunday's games. Iván Alonso got the only goal midway through the first half with a direct free kick to hand the Andalusians their first defeat in thirteen games. Jofre and Pedro León could have increased the lead, but Notario did well to keep out Nano and De Quintana as the visitors came out looking for the equaliser after the restart.

Sporting Gijón clocked up their first three points of 2007 with a 0-3 victory at Ponferradina. Barral opened the scoring midway through the first half with a shot on the turn, but not before Roberto had made a couple of important saves. Omar made it two on the hour mark with his side's first penalty of the season after Fuentes was sent off for a foul on Omar himself, and Diego Castro wrapped things up with a low shot later on.

Honours were shared in a 1-1 draw between Real Madrid Castilla and Alavés in the third match on Saturday evening. The locals went close early on, Mata and Negredo testing Porato and De la Red hitting the post, but De Lucas got on the end of Ogbeche's cross to put the visitors ahead midway through the first half. Granero equalised from the penalty spot after Negredo was fouled early in the second half, but after Borja Valero was sent off for a second booking both sides settled for a point. (10.02.07)

Almería put in their claim for promotion with a 3-1 victory on Sunday lunchtime over Salamanca, who have yet to win since the turn of the tear. Despite having Cabrera sent off late in the first half for a second bookable offence, the Andalusians went ahead on the stroke of half time with a volley from Ortíz. The goalscorer set up Larrea for a second midway through the second half, and Kalu Uche wrapped things up with a late strike before Bruno put through his own net in injury time.

Valladolid held on to their seven point lead at the top of the table after beating Ciudad Murcia 1-0 on Sunday evening. In the absence of the injured Llorente, new signing Manchev headed home the only goal on the half hour mark. Manchev, Borja and Falcón all had chances to increase the lead after that without success, but they had already done enough to extend their unbeaten run in the league to eighteen games, which is starting to break records.

Numancia moved up to fifth after beating Elche 1-2, a first defeat for the locals since David Vidal took over. The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Palacios beat Caballero with just under half an hour gone. Peragón equlaised in the first minute after the restart, but Del Pino put Andoni Goikoetxea's side back in front six minutes later after a mistake by Bernaus, and Cachorro wasted a chance to save a point when he missed a penalty later on.

Xerez are back to sixth following a 2-1 win over Poli Ejido, who they overtake in the table. All the goals came in the second half, visiting keeper Kike unlucky to score in his own net just two minutes after the restart. Ejido were left with ten men when Tena was shown a second yellow card, but Toedtli could have equalised before Abel Aguilar made it two. Pedro Vega got one back from the penalty spot a minute later after Ortíz was fouled, but it was not enough to save a point.

Hércules lost ground on the teams above them after they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Vecindario, who are now twelve points away from safety. Veteran striker Tote came on to put the Alicante based side ahead with twenty minutes to go, and Ariel hit the bar for them a few minutes later. But the Canary Islanders were awarded a penalty eight minutes from the end after Albácar handled in the area which Mirosavljevic converted, and Hércules ended with ten men after Sergio Fernández picked up a second caution.

Vecindario's neighbours Las Palmas are out of the bottom four on goal difference after a 0-1 win at fellow strugglers Lorca, their first victory away from home this season. The locals had the better chances for most of the match, but they were unable to beat Pindado, and Juanma headed the winner with twenty minutes left on the clock.

Las Palmas did have a helping hand though from the other Canary Island side Tenerife, who beat Castellón 2-0 to send Pepe Moré's side into the relegation spots. Frankowski put the locals ahead in only the tenth minute, but the home fans suffered a lot before Ayoze got the second on a quick counter-attack with ten minutes to go.

Elsewhere Albacete moved away from the danger zone after beating Málaga 0-3 to end the Andalusians' recent mini-revival. The Manchegans were already three up at the break, Juan Carlos getting the first early on and new signing Calle adding two more in a four minute period before half time. The home side gave up the fight after Jesule was sent off with a straight red ten minutes after the restart, and they are now only three points above the relegation spots. (11.02.07)