Second division, week 24

Leaders Sporting Gijon surged further ahead at the top of the table with a 0-3 win at bottom club Algeciras, and they have now taken 22 points from their last eight games without letting in a single goal in that time. Bilic got two of their goals before the break and Rubén scored the third later on. Levante are the only side who can keep up with them, and they remain three points behind after a late Rivera goal gave them a 1-0 win over Leganés.

Getafe came from behind to beat Málaga B 2-1 on Sunday lunchtime and take third spot, thanks to goals from Michel and Alberto. Alavés are only a point behind them though, and they shrugged off their midweek cup defeat with a 2-0 win over Almería, Rubén Navarro and Kiko getting the goals in the last half hour of the match. Eibar dropped down to sixth though after they were beaten 1-0 by Córdoba.

Defeats as well for the three teams immediately below the chasing pack. Cádiz lost 1-0 to an improving Terrassa, who are now only a point behind them in eighth place. Salamanca were beaten 1-2 at home by Ciudad Murcia, and Elche threw away a one goal lead and fell 2-1 at Xerez, who pull away from the lower reaches. Their win left Rayo Vallecano clearly down in the bottom four, and the club sacked manager Jorge D'Alessandro at the end of the weekend. (15.02.04)

Las Palmas beat third placed Numancia 2-1, opening up the possibility of a new side in the top three when the contenders play tomorrow. Eibar, Getafe and Alavés are all within reach. Both goals from the locals came from new signing Jahic, with Rosu getting a penalty for the visitors in between. Meanwhile Las Palmas's neighbours Tenerife played out yet another 0-0 with draw specialists Recreativo, the fourteenth of the season for both, a result which leaves the Canary Islanders further down in the drop zone. In the third match on Saturday evening, Poli Ejido beat fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano 1-0 thanks to a first half strike from Paco García to climb out of the relegation spots and leave their opponents back down in the bottom four. (14.02.04)