Second division, day 16

Valladolid stay top after a 0-0 draw at Cádiz on Sunday lunchtime, a good result for the visitors after they had a player sent off midway through the second half. They move two point clear of Xerez and four above local rivals Salamanca, who stay in third place despite a 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid Castilla. Quique Martín had given the Castilla León side the lead from the penalty spot before the break, but two goals from youth international Mata in the second half handed the three points to Michel's team.

Real Murcia are level with Salamanca on points though after drawing 1-1 with Ponferradina. Lucas Alcaraz's side have yet to win in their new stadium, and they only saved a point thanks to a Pedro León strike after Rubén Vega had given the visitors the lead. Albacete and Las Palmas also drew 1-1, a late goal by David García cancelling out a strike by Buades a few minutes earlier. And finally Tenerife's new coach Casuco started with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Elche, two goals from Raúl Sánchez taking the Canary Islanders out of the bottom four. (10.12.06)

Second placed Xerez were beaten 1-0 by Castellón, despite the fact that the locals ended the game with seven men after having four players sent off! Natalio got the only goal on the quarter hour mark, and the visitors also had a player red carded. Sporting Gijón failed to take advantage though after falling to a 2-0 defeat against an improving Numancia, and the Asturians drop to sixth behind Almería, who thrashed Lorca 4-0 with four goals in the second half.

Tension at Alavés, where the local trainers' bench had to be protected by the police as angry fans protested against club president Dmitri Piterman. The Vitoria based side beat Ciudad Murcia 1-0 though, Arthuro getting the goal from the penalty spot to take them away from the danger zone. Hércules also climb up the table after a 1-0 victory against Poli Ejido, and Málaga came away from bottom club Vecindario with a point after drawing 1-1. (09.12.06)