Second division, day 17

Valladolid found themselves four points clear at the top after their two closest rivals both lost. Third placed Salamanca were beaten 0-1 by Sporting Gijón on Sunday lunchtime, Pedro getting the only goal ten minutes from the end. And second placed Xerez lost 0-2 at home to Hércules later in the evening, Juanlu and Moisés scoring a goal in each half to take the Alicante based side up into the top half of the table. Elsewhere Cádiz beat struggling Lorca 1-2 to stay level with Hércules on points. (17.12.06)

With a midweek round of games coming up before the Christmas break, no less than eight second division matches were brought forward to Saturday. Leaders Valladolid opened up a five point gap pending Sunday's games after beating Castellón 1-0, Víctor getting the only goal late in the first half. And Almería moved up into the top three with a 0-1 win over Ponferradina, Michel scoring the winner from the penalty spot with the game already in injury time.

Real Murcia are level on points with Almería after drawing 1-1 at Elche, although they have now gone seven games without a win. Poli Ejido are up to seventh after thrashing Alavés 5-2, Moreno getting four goals for the locals including a penalty. And Castilla are level with Ejido on points thanks to a 3-2 victory over bottom club Vecindario, Adrian and Negredo (twice) putting Michel's side ahead before two late goals from the Canary Islanders.

Cash strapped Málaga moved up into the top half of the table, Pablo Couñago scoring as they beat Tenerife 1-0. And Ciudad Murcia came back from a goal to beat Albacete with second half strikes from Goitom and Saizar. And in the last match of the evening, Las Palmas and Numancia shared the points in a 1-1 draw, Del Pino cancelling out Trashorras's earlier strike. (16.12.06)