Second division - day 17

Only two matches left for Sunday, with Xerez staying in third spot in the table despite a 1-2 defeat at home to Gimnàstic. Antoñito gave the hosts the lead in the first half, but Víctor equalised on the stroke of half time, and Jordi Alba got the winner after the restart. Later in the evening Tenerife beat Alavés by the same scoreline to move up to fifth in the table, just two points off the promotion spots. Alfaro and Oscar Pérez got the goals for the Canary Islanders in the first half hour, with Javi Guerra getting one back near the end. (21.12.08)

Most of the second division sides opted to start their winter break a day early, with nine of the eleven matches scheduled for Saturday evening. Leaders Salamanca will not be celebrating though after they lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad, with Ansotegi getting the only goal in the third minute of injury time. Zaragoza moved up to second pending Xerez's game on Sunday after a comfortable 3-0 victory over struggling Alicante, Oliveira and Ewerthon scoring before the break and Jorge López afterwards. And Hércules stay level with Zaragoza on points after a 3-2 victory over Huesca, Delibasic getting a late winner after the visitors had equalised twice.

Castellón drop down to sixth though after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Girona, Arnal heading in a first minute goal to take the Catalans level with their opponents in the table. Rayo Vallecano separate the two in the table after they were beaten 2-0 by an improving Elche, David Fuster scoring a brace late on to take the three points. And Levante are also on 25 points after a 3-0 win over Córdoba, Rubén Suárez netting two in the second half and Adrián getting the third.

It was a good day for the home sides though, with Las Palmas also running out 3-0 winners over Albacete. Nauzet and Márquez got the first two before the break, and David García rounded things off after the restart. The only locals not to win were bottom club Sevilla Atlético, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Eibar. Murcia's new coach José Miguel Campos (who took over from Javier Clemente midweek) was not able to see his team in action against Celta however, the match called off after a bout of food poisoning hit the local squad. (20.12.08)