Second division - day 40

Racing Santander are now very close to returning to the first division after drawing 0-0 at Murcia. With the third and fourth teams Recreativo and Xerez meeting next week, anything but a victory by Xerez will mean promotion for Quique Setien's side irrespective of their own result at home to Atlético Madrid. Murcia though are only just above the bottom four on goal difference, and with a negative head-to-head record against most of their rivals they will be struggling to stay up.

Elche still have a remote chance of reaching the third promotion spot after a 2-0 victory over Burgos. The visitors ended the game with both keepers injured, and their left back took over in goal for the last half hour. His name? Zubizarreta!

Poli Ejido kept up their fight for survival with a 3-0 win over Oviedo which takes them level on points with Murcia. The Asturians turned up with six B team players due to injuries and suspensions, and the defeat ends any chance they had of promotion.

Albacete and Eibar did have nothing to play for and the game ended the way it started, 0-0. The only incident was a first half penalty save by the home side keeper Cano from Guerrero.

Badajoz moved closer to safety with a 3-2 victory over Leganés, and Numancia did the same defeating Racing Ferrol 4-0. With only six points separating eleventh placed Ferrol from Ejido though, almost anyone in the bottom half of the table could still go down. (12.05.02)

With two games to go to the end of the season, Atlético Madrid made sure of the second division title with a 3-2 win over Extremadura. Diego Alonso scored twice to head the Pichichi table.

Extremadura are close to relegation, as are Jaén who threw away a one goal lead after their keeper was sent off to lose 2-1 to Córdoba.

Second place Racing Santander can clinch promotion tomorrow after fourth place Xerez lost 2-1 at struggling Nàstic, and Schuster's side look like missing out on promotion after their rivals for third spot Recreativo beat Salamanca 2-0.

Levante moved away from the bottom spots with a 0-1 win at Sporting despite ending the game with nine men, and the Asturians are now out of the promotion chase. (11.05.02)