Second division - day 21

Two important come-backs on Sunday lunchtime. Hércules fought back from two down to draw 2-2 with Salamanca, leaving both sides just outside of the top three on goal difference. Miku and Cohen put the visitors two up at the break, but goals by Taborda and Rubén Navarro after the restart saved a point for the locals. And in the battle between the two bottom clubs, Alicante fought back to beat Sevilla Atlético 2-3. Redondo and Fali scored for the home side in the first half, but strikes from Capi and Azkoitia after the break levelled the scores, and Peragón got the winner in the final minute.

Zaragoza are out of the top three after a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Rayo Vallecano later in the evening. Pachón's early goal for the visitors was overturned by strikes from Oliveira and Ewerthon before the break. However Aganzo made it all square from the penalty spot after the restart, and new signing Sousa scored the winner late on. Elsewhere it was finally decided that the match between Gimnàstic and Eibar would not take place today, and a new date for the fixture will have to be agreed. (25.01.09)

Xerez take the honorary title of "winter champions" at the halfway stage of the second division after a 2-0 win over Celta on Saturday evening. Momo and Aythami got the goals in a four minute period midway through the first half to move three points clear at the top pending Sunday's games. Tenerife are in second spot after drawing 2-2 at promotion rivals Castellón. Ulloa and Tabare twice gave the home side the lead in the second half, but Angel and Richi equalised both times.

Real Sociedad missed out once again though on a chance to make it to the top three, the Basque side being held to a 0-0 draw by Elche in the Anoeta stadium. Levante are now level on points with Real after coming from behind to beat Las Palmas 1-2, a Rubén penalty and a Geijo header overturning Nauzet's early free kick. Only three points separate nine teams though after Girona beat Huesca 2-0, David Cañas getting the first on the stroke of half time and Felipe wrapping things up later on.

Murcia's revival continues under coach José Miguel Campos, and they made it five wins in a row after beating Córdoba 1-0. De Lucas got the only goal with ten minutes to go to leave the Andalusians further down in the drop zone. Alavés could finish the weekend in the bottom four as well after losing 0-2 to Albacete. Goals from Diego Costa and Toché saved the head of visiting coach Juan Ignacio Martínez. Eibar's game at Gimnàstic was called off due to high winds, and the fixture has been rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon. (24.01.09)