Second division, day 42

The last two relegation spots were decided on the final day of the season, Racing Ferrol and Leganés joining Oviedo and Badajoz in the second division B after both lost their respective matches, the former 0-1 to Tenerife and the latter 2-0 to Terrassa, who themselves could have gone down if they had lost. Eibar saved themselves with a 2-0 win over an Albacete side who had to settle for third place, and Almería avoided any problems with a 1-1 draw against neighbours Poli Ejido.

Two other teams, Córdoba and Elche, were in with a remote chance of relegation had Leganés won or drawn, but in the end both were saved the trouble of having to add to their points totals. Córdoba did anyway, drawing 1-1 at Getafe, but Elche lost 4-1 at Las Palmas. One other game took place on Sunday with nothing at stake, champions Murcia being beaten 1-0 by Compostela. The Gallicians were safe some time ago from a footballing point of view, but now have to find money to pay their outstanding debts to players by the end of July, otherwise their efforts would have been in vain and they will be relegated in place of Leganés.

The promotion spots to the second division A were also settled on Sunday, with the sixth and final round of play-off games taking place. By coincidence all four promoted sides came from regional group IV, Southern Spain, with Cádiz, Málaga B and Ciudad de Murcia all joining Algeciras in the second division A next season. Cádiz came back from behind to draw at Universidad Las Palmas and stay a point above Barcelona B, but for a few minutes the Catalans were above them in the table. One B side did make it though, Málaga B beating Lanzarote and taking advantage of a last minute equaliser by Gramanet at Real Unión to move to the top of the table and win promotion to 2A for the first time ever. And the Andalucians were only playing in the second division B this season thanks to the bankruptcy of Granada! In the last group, Ciudad de Murcia defeated their closest rivals Castellón 3-1 to go up, an amazing feat given that they were only formed four years ago in the regional divisions and have now won promotion three times in that period. With Real Murcia being promoted to the first division as well, this has been a great year for the town. (29.06.03)

The last weekend of the season in the second division, with the only issues at stake who will go down and who will come up from the second division B. All that will be decided on Sunday, but there were four games on Saturday night where teams with nothing to play for decided to start their holidays a day earlier. Zaragoza, currently in the runners-up position, could drop to third place after they were beaten 1-3 by Salamanca, and Levante made sure of fourth spot with a 1-2 win at Oviedo, who say goodbye to the second division A. Xerez finished off their season with a 1-4 victory at Numancia, and Sporting Gijon won 0-3 at bottom club Badajoz. (28.06.03)