Second division day 31

Atlético Madrid kept up their hopes of promotion with a 2-0 victory over next to bottom side Universidad Las Palmas. Salva and Aguilera got the goals to take them temporarily up to fourth spot pending Sunday's games. Leganés sunk their Madrid neighbours Getafe with a 0-1 victory after Cañizares put through his own goal, and Racing Ferrol moved a point further away from the drop zone after drawing 1-1 against Extremadura. Córdoba got their first win in some time thanks to two second half goals from Manolo as they beat Elche 1-2. (31.03.01).

On Sunday, leaders Sevilla saved a point against third placed Recreativo Huelva with a second half penalty by top scorer Olivera. Oscar had given their Andalucian neighbours the lead earlier in the half, also from the penalty spot. Sevilla move on to 59 points, just two ahead now of Tenerife who won 1-2 away at Badajoz. Mista and Pier appeared to have given them a comfortable lead in the second half, but a goal from Leandro near the end put the Extremaduran side back in it.

Betis took advantage of Recreativo's draw to sneak past them back up to third place, five points behind Tenerife. They managed a narrow 1-0 win against Eibar thanks to a first half goal from Filipescu, their first victory under caretaker manager Luis Del Sol. Recreativo drop to fourth, and Atlético Madrid are a point behind them in fifth place after their Saturday win. Next Sunday they visit Tenerife in what will surely be the match of the weekend in the second division.

Albacete took the lead through Jesús against Sporting Gijon and for ten minutes or so were in the promotion spots. However two each from Pablo Amo and Manel sank their hopes before Manolo pulled one back for the final score of 4-2. Albacete drop to sixth, with Sporting rising up to within three points of them in eighth place, a point behind Salamanca who also lost ground on the leaders after losing 2-1 to Jaén. New manager Balta watched them go two down to goals from Pepelu and Rueda before Toedtli headed one back near the end.

Levante gave themselves an outside chance of promotion with a last minute winner by Tomás to defeat bottom club Lleida 3-2. Last season's top scorer Salillas scored twice, but each time they were pegged back by Lleida's new signing from Mallorca Josemi before securing victory to go two points behind Sporting. Lleida and Universidad Las Palmas are almost certain to go down, but Compostela threw themselves a lifeline with a 2-0 win over Murcia to move above Getafe to within a point of Racing Ferrol and Elche. (01.04.01)