Second division, day 37

Alavés moved to within a point of Celta after beating Poli Ejido 2-0 on Sunday evening. Both goals came late on, Bodipo opening the scoring seven minutes from the end and new signing David Sánchez transforming a penalty in injury time. Only two points separate the top three though after Cádiz humiliated Valladolid 6-1 earlier in the day. The Andalusians scored three times with a little over half the game gone, and Mirosavljevic came on to score a hat-trick in the last half hour. Recreativo are not out of the running though after they came from behind to beat Terrassa 2-1, Uche and Azkorra scoring twice in the last ten minutes to keep their side within four points of the promotion spots.

Down at the lower end of the table, Córdoba kept alive their hopes of salvation with a 0-3 win over fellow strugglers Salamanca. Cristian Alvarez scored twice, the second directly from a corner, to take the Andalusians to within two points of their opponents and three away from safety. Almería are only three points above the drop zone after they could only draw 1-1 with Lleida, but Sporting Gijón and Xerez are already sure of second division football next season, and with nothing more to play for their game ended in a dull 0-0 draw. (15.05.05)

Leaders Celta were beaten 0-1 by struggling Ciudad Murcia on Saturday night, although they still remain four points clear of Alavés pending their game on Sunday. Luque scored the only goal for the visitors in the first half to take his side out of the relegation zone and hand the Galicians their second defeat in a row. It could have been worse for them though had fourth placed Eibar not lost 3-2 at Nàstic. The Basque side had come from behind to lead at the interval, but a late goal from Pinilla gave the home side the three points.

Elsewhere Real Murcia extended their unbeaten run to seven games, although their 2-2 draw at home to bottom club Pontevedra wasn't the result they were looking for to take them totally safe. They ended the day in thirteenth spot, a point behind Racing Ferrol, who also drew 2-2 against Tenerife. Finally Málaga B moved five points clear of the relegation spots, an early Calderón penalty giving them a much needed 1-0 win over Elche. (14.05.05)