Real Murcia will be joining Valladolid in the first division next season after drawing 1-1 at Ponferradina on Saturday evening. A dull first half ended with local midfielder Rubén Vega getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence, but even so Borreguero brought a good save out of Notario soon after the restart. Iván Alonso took advantage of slack defending to put Lucas Alcaraz's side ahead on the hour mark, and although Baha equalised in injury time after charging down Notario's clearance, a point was enough to ensure promotion. Almería could join them as well if they win tomorrow, leaving only the relegation spots to be decided.

Murcia's city neighbours Ciudad Murcia dealt a blow to Alavés, a 5-1 victory taking the locals up to fourth and leaving the Vitoria based side further down in the drop zone. Xavi Jiménez opened the scoring early on for the locals after Goitom headed back Rafita's cross, and although Arthuro equalised from the penalty spot after Cristian Díaz fouled De Lucas, Goitom restored the lead following Cristian Díaz's free kick. Gaizka Saizar put the finishing touch to Goitom's assist to make it three just a minute after the restart, and Saizar and Goitom added two more later in the half for the final result.

Real Madrid Castilla are still only a point above Alavés though after they lost 3-2 to Salamanca, who are now seventh. Michel's side took the lead when his son Adrián beat Felip from 30 metres out in the thirteenth minute, but Quique Martín equalised on the half hour mark after Carlos Vela set him up. And Braulio put the locals ahead before the break after another pass from Vela, the two forwards (who had both dyed their hair a "Beckham" platinum blond before the game) celebrating in style. Javi García equalised with a header from Nieto's cross midway through the second half, but Braulio headed the winner from Zé Tó's cross later on, and they held on despite having David Charcos sent off five minutes from the end.

Málaga moved four points clear of the bottom four after coming from two goals down to beat already relegated Vecindario 3-2. The Canary Islanders surprised their rivals, Kirian heading them into the lead midway through the first half and Xisco making it two from the penalty spot after Michel was fouled close to half time. But Hidalgo got one back from a second penalty after the restart, and Iván Rosado midway through the second half after latching on to a rebound. Jonathan Valle got himself sent off for kicking an opponent after a tussle, but Iván Rosado popped up again near the end to beat Keleman aand give his side three very important points.

Sporting Gijón are level with Málaga after a late 1-0 victory over Numancia, their first win in the Molinon stadium in 2007. Samuel went close with a header midway through the first half, but a few minutes later he was sent off for a foul on Gorka Brit, who himself tested Roberto a couple of times before the break. The Asturians were left with nine men when Michel was shown a second yellow card with twenty minutes to go, but Congo poked home the winner five minutes from the end.

Mixed fortunes for the other Canary Island sides on Saturday evening, with Tenerife moving up safely to mid-table after beating Elche 0-1. There were few chances before Gastón Casas and Oscar Díaz tried their luck for the locals early in the second half. But the visitors went ahead with an Ayoze penalty after Fajardo was sent off for a foul on Cristo ten minutes from the end, and David Vidal's side ended with nine men after Casas was shown a red card in injury time for kicking an opponent.

Las Palmas though were dragged back into the relegation struggle after losing 0-1 to Albacete, who are now fifth. The home side had several chances to take the lead before the break, with Javi Martínez having to make saves from Nacho Garro, Darino and Trashorras, and Viyuela shooting wide. But Calle hit the bar shortly before the interval, and the ex Recreativo striker got what was to be the winner from the penalty spot after Castillo brought him down after the restart. Las Palmas ended with ten men after Aythami was sent off late on. (12.05.07)

Almería will have to wait another week or so before joining Valladolid and Murcia in the first division after they lost 3-1 to struggling Lorca on Sunday lunchtime. The home side already have one foot in the second division, but they took the lead when Barroso picked up Israel's long pass to beat Westerveld in the eighteenth minute. De Carlos volleyed home a second twenty minutes in to the second half, and although Mario Bermejo headed one back from Bruno's cross a couple of minutes later, Barroso wrapped things up with his second of the day later on. (13.05.07)

Almería are 14 points clear though of Xerez, who moved back up to fourth after beating Castellón 1-0 on Sunday evening. Marco Navas (brother of Sevilla's Jesús) got the only goal of the game in the fourth minute when his high cross deflected in off a defender past Oliva, and he came close to adding a second a few minutes later. Tabares and Mora both hit the bar at the other end though, and Natalio wasted a couple of chances either side of half time as the visitors tried to get something out of the match.

Valladolid may already be promoted, but they are still looking to tie up the points to ensure them of the second division title. They could only draw 2-2 though with Cádiz, Manchev putting them ahead twice but the visitors pegging them back both times. The Bulgarian striker headed Sisi's cross past Limia on the quarter hour mark, but Lobos equalised on the stroke of half time, driving the ball back past Alberto after the keeper had saved his penalty kick. Cádiz midfielder Fleurquín was sent off early in the second half, and Manchev appeared to have won it with a second header from Alvaro Antón's free kick before Sesma levelled the scores again on a late counter-attack.

Elsewhere Poli Ejido took another step closer to safety after a 2-0 win over Hércules, who drop below them in the table as a result. López Ramos put the home side ahead when he deflected an effort from Toedtli past Aragoneses following a corner with a quarter of an hour gone. And Víctor Salas went close a couple of times before he got on the end of Toedtli's cross to make it two with just over an hour on the clock. (13.05.07)