Recreativo drop out of the top two for the first time in fifteen weeks after losing 1-3 to Las Palmas on Sunday lunchtime, the defeat leaving them below Sporting Gijón on goal difference. The Andalusians suffered an early set-back when Cifu was sent off for bringing down Chrisantus in the twelfth minute as he advanced on goal, and ten minutes later Crisantus himself opened the scoring after Valerón and Nauzet combined to set him up. Joselu made it all square a couple of minutes later after picking up a bad clearance, but Valerón connected with Angel's pass to restore the lead shortly before half time. Five minutes in to the second half Nauzet made it three from the penalty spot after Zamora fouled Deivid in the area, and although there were concerns when Valerón was stretchered off unconscious after a clash of heads with Murillo (he later recovered in hospital), the Canary Islanders shut up shop after that for a win which takes them back up in to the play-off spots.
Mallorca are just outside of the top six, below Numancia on goal difference, after a 2-0 victory over struggling Girona later in the evening. Alfaro gave the Balearic Islanders the lead after the defence failed to clear Ximo Navarro's cross some ten minutes before the break, and the ex Sevilla midfielder made it two from the penalty spot after Nunes was pushed over in the area early on in the second half. The Catalans (with Javi López on the bench for the first time since replacing Ricardo Rodríguez midweek) could have got back in the game had Rubén Miño not saved Jandro's penalty later on, but they fell to another defeat which left them down in the drop zone by the end of the weekend. Mallorca move clear of Murcia and Zaragoza, who cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw. The best occasions in the first half were a couple of efforts by Alvaro and Luis García which Casto kept out, and a deflected shot by Kike García at the other end. The locals were left with ten men though when Luis García picked up a second booking after the break, and Eddy missed the best of chances to win it for the visitors near the end.
Still only five points separate the play-off spots from the relegation zone, Ponferradina moving back up to within two points of the promotion places after a 1-0 victory over Jaén. The only goal came early on, Nino turning Yuri's shot past his own keeper in the sixth minute, although the locals could have extended their lead when Javi Lara rattled the crossbar later on in the first half. Only a couple of efforts by Jona caused any problems for Santamaría and his defence, and Carlos Terrazas's new side held on for a win which takes them above their opponents in the table. Jaén are once again only a point above the bottom four, level with Alcorcón, who drew 1-1 at Mirandés. Fresh from their midweek cup victory against Granada, the visitors went ahead with three minutes to go when Oscar Plano latched on to a loose ball in the area to beat Dani Jiménez. Before that the home team had been left with ten men when Corral was sent off for a foul on Javito, but with the game in injury time Pablo Infante levelled it with a well struck free kick, giving his side the point they needed to stay out of the drop zone, just ahead of Barcelona B on goal difference. (22.12.13)
Leaders Deportivo were held to a 3-3 draw by Numancia on Saturday evening, and they will now have to wait for Recreativo's match tomorrow to see whether they will end 2013 in top spot. The visitors had not been beaten away from home in five games, and they took an early lead when Juanma poked the ball past Lux after Regalón (in a possible offside position) headed over a Julio Alvarez centre. Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first half turned the scoreline around though, the first a shot from outside of the area by Juan Domínguez, and the second a Borja header from an Antonio Nuñez cross. Things swung back in favour of Anquela's side in the second half, substitute Sergi Enrich heading in a corner on the near post and then adding a second after Akapo played on another long Alvarez free kick, but Luis saved a point for his side with an injury time header from another free kick from Culio.
Sporting Gijón stay within two points of Depor, level now with Recre on points, after a 2-2 draw at Barcelona B. Local keeper Ortolá had to save a Scepovic header before the Serbian striker got on the end of Barrera's cross to open the scoring on the quarter hour mark. Denis Suárez and Planas combined to set up Sanabria for the equalizer some fifteen minutes later, but after that there were few chances, and the game appeared to be heading for a draw until two minutes from the end, when Scepovic scored his second of the evening after the defence failed to clear a Canella cross. There was still time however for Edu Bedía to save a draw for Eusebio's side with an injury time free kick, the point keeping the youngsters out of the relegation spots pending Sunday's games.
Eibar are having a great season since their return to the second division, and they are now fourth after a 0-2 victory at regional neighbours Alavés. Arruabarrena headed them in to the lead from a Morales cross with just over half an hour on the clock, and although Quioga and Viguera went close for Juan Carlos Mendiá's side after the break, Jarosik turned another Morales in to his own net with twelve minutes to go. Alavés end the year in bottom spot after Real Madrid Castilla beat Córdoba 3-1 to climb above the Vitoria based team in the table. Raúl de Tomás started things off after Lucas put him through shortly before half time, and Lucas himself got the second after Jaime set him up after the restart. Substitute Burgui made it three soon afterwards following a quick breakaway, and Xisco's late consolation couldn't prevent Manolo Díaz's side from clocking up a fourth win in a row.
Castilla are still three points away from safety however after Hércules and Sabadell both won. Hércules beat Lugo 1-3 for a third straight away victory, Pamarot putting them in front early on following a corner, and Portillo adding a second soon afterwards on a counter-attack. Manu got one back from the penalty spot after Peña handled in the area after the interval, but Sugi got the finishing touch to Sissoko's shot with a quarter of an hour to go to wrap things up. Hércules move to within two points of their hosts in the table, and Sabadell stay level with them on points after a 0-3 win at Tenerife, a good result for caretaker coach Miguel Olmo. Marti Crespo got the opener in the fifth minute following a Collantes corner, and the Catalans converted two penalties in the second half, the first by Hidalgo after Javi Moyano brought down Toni Lao, and the second by Anibal after a foul by Raúl Cámara on Cristian. (21.12.13)