Second placed Real Murcia took a step backwards in their push for promotion when they lost 1-0 to Las Palmas on Saturday night. Second division top scorer Marcos Márquez got the only goal for the Canary Islanders from the penalty spot after Darino was fouled late in the first half, his sixteenth of the season. And Lucas Alcaraz's side had an off day, their only real chances coming later on when Nacho González had to save a couple of times from Iván Alonso. The result takes the locals up to twelfth pending Sunday's games.

Xerez are back up to fourth after a 3-1 victory over Real Madrid Castilla, although they are still eight points off the top three. The Andalusians took the lead when Palencia turned Yordi's cross through his own net in the tenth minute, but Negredo equalised five minutes later, heading past Chema following a corner. The visitors were left with ten men when Javi García was sent off in the second half, and the home side took advantage to score twice in the last ten minutes, Arruabarrena getting on the end of a Pedro Ríos cross to score the first and then setting up Camuñas to head the second past Codina.

The defeat leaves Michel's side just three points above the relegation spots, a point ahead of Elche, who were beaten 2-0 by struggling Lorca. The Murcia based side had lost their last seven games, but they tied the game up with two goals in the five minutes before half time. Alvaro Jurado started things off, heading home a Xavi Moro free kick, and Ramos got the second from the penalty spot just before the break. (31.03.07)

Almería moved up above Murcia to second after coming from behind to beat Sporting Gijón 1-2 on Sunday lunchtime, the first time in their history that they have won in the Molinón stadium. Diego Castro opened the scoring for the locals on the half hour mark, and Barral missed a chance to increase the lead soon afterwards. But the visitors scored twice in a three minute period early in the second half, Crusat equalising with a low shot and then setting up Acasiete for him to head the second. Almería ended with ten men when substitute Bermejo was sent off for elbowing an opponent, and visiting coach Unai Emery was also shown a red card for protesting.

Valladolid are within three victories of being mathematically promoted after beating struggling Málaga 1-0 on Sunday evening, the win keeping them ten points above Almería and twenty above fourth place. It was a boring match though, and there were only a couple of chances at either end before substitute Toché got the only goal with a shot from the edge of the area less than a minute after coming on a quarter of an hour from the end. Mendilibar's side have now gone 25 games without defeat, and the result sends the Andalusians down in the bottom four.

Ciudad Murcia also came from a goal down to beat Tenerife 2-1 and hold on to the fourth position. Raúl Sánchez put the Canary Islanders ahead shortly before the interval after Oscar Pérez set him up, and Pérez missed a chance to make it two soon after the restart. Cristian Díaz cleared off the line from Cristo though, and soon afterwards the defender equalised at the other end with a header following a free kick. And just two minutes later Luque struck home the winner with another free kick to keep up Ciudad's unbeaten home record.

Ciudad stay a point ahead of Xerez and also Numancia, who beat promotion rivals Cádiz 1-0. Both teams had been off form recently, the locals losing their last three games and the visitors only winning one in seven. But it was Goikoetxea's side who took the three points with a well struck free kick from Julio Alvarez six minutes from the end, a few minutes after the Andalusians had been left a man short following the sending off of De Quintana.

Salamanca lost out on the chance to keep pace with the chasing pack though after throwing away a three goal lead to draw 3-3 with Ponferradina. Garai opened the scoring with just over half an hour gone, and goals either side of half time by Braulio and Oscar Arpón appeared to have wrapped things up. But the visitors were given a penalty when Mario fouled Risso, and although Teté saved Cifu's kick, the defender drove in the rebound. And Risso and Fran added two more in the last ten minutes to set up a dramatic finish.

Down at the bottom, Vecindario appear to be doomed after another defeat, this time 1-0 to a Poli Ejido side who move up to seventh. Ortíz got the only goal of the game with a shot into the top corner of the net in the eighth minute, and after that the only real chances were a shot from Salas which Keleman kept out, and a Mozer free kick at the other end after the break which put Kike to the test.

Castellón are out of the relegation spots though to the detriment of the free falling Málaga after beating Albacete 0-1. Nakor opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark from an Antonio López free kick, and after that the visitors sat back to defend. The locals were unable though to beat a confident Oliva, who made several important saves including a first half effort from David Bauzá and a Barkero free kick after the restart.

Only five points separate eight sides however, and Alavés are now only four points above the drop zone after losing 2-3 to Hércules. The visitors were one up at the break after Calandria picked up a pass from Tote, and it could have been worse had Porató not saved a Montenegro penalty after Carmelo was fouled. Rubén Navarro equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half after Sergio Fernández caught Wellington Paulista with a elbow, but Kike Mateo restored the lead soon afterwards. Alavés were awarded a third penalty which Falcón stopped from Navarro, and although Arthuro equalised a few minutes later, Turiel headed home Albacar's free kick with five minutes to go for the final result. (01.04.07)