Second division, day 16

Zaragoza opened up a three point lead at the top with a 1-0 victory over Xerez. The only goal came from Yordi at the start of the second half. Levante scraped a last minute 1-1 draw against Las Palmas despite playing for much of the game with ten men after Mijatovic was sent off early in the second half, and they hold on to second place. Sporting Gijon beat Getafe 0-1 to extend their winning run to four games, and Numancia won their first away match of the season 1-2 at Eibar. (22.12.02)

Third placed Albacete were ahead twice in their away match at Compostela, but ended up drawing 3-3 to miss out on the chance to move to the top of the table pending Sunday's games. Murcia closed up to within a point of Albacete after beating struggling Córdoba, and Elche are a point behind them after keeping up their unbeaten away record with a 0-3 victory at Almería. Terrassa also stopped their slide down the table with a 1-0 win over Badajoz. Elsewhere there were 1-1 draws between Racing Ferrol and Poli Ejido, and between bottom club Oviedo and Leganés, and the match between Tenerife and Salamanca ended without goals. (21.12.02)