Sevilla hung on to top spot by the skin of their teeth, earning a point at home to Sporting with a shot which took a deflection off a defender in the 93rd minute by the league's top scorer Olivera. Manel had opened the scoring for the visitors just before half time with a controversial goal, the referee waving play on as Ledhiakov left two Sevilla players writhing on the ground with hard tackles. After Manel scored, Sevilla's Fredi was sent off for punching the Russian, leaving his side with ten men. However Sporting's Graf was also sent off late in the second half, and after Notario saved at point blank range from Mario, Olivera saved the day with his thirteenth of the season. Atlético Madrid kept up their recent run with their fifth victory in a row, this time 2-0 against Badajoz. Playing on Saturday evening, they moved to within four points of third place thanks to a goal in each half from Dani, the first following up after Correa hit the post and the second with a shot which went under keeper Baines. The game was delayed by 10 minutes to enable ground staff to clear some of the 100,000 balloons which the packed 50,000 crowd released before the match.

Tenerife move up to second spot behind Sevilla with a 4-0 victory over struggling Compostela. Barata and Luis García got a pair each in a 25 minute period around half time, and Compostela's Gudelj was sent off late in the second half. Betis could only draw against bottom club Universidad Las Palmas, and that thanks to a Casas equaliser 15 minutes from time after Jonathan had given the Canary Island side the lead earlier in the second half. They have not won now in the last four games and drop to third, now only two points ahead of Salamanca, who after losing two games in a row thrashed another relegation candidate Getafe 4-2. Toedtli, Pinilla, Munteanu and Quique Martín (penalty) got the goals for the home side, with Vidal replying for the visitors in the first half and substitute Mariano Juan adding another right at the end. After today's games Atlético Madrid are fifth, two points behind Salamanca and ahead of Albacete on goal average. They kept up their good run after coming from behind to beat Lleida 1-2. Ramón gave the Catalans the lead, but an equaliser by Edu García soon afterwards and Javi Guerrero's twelfth of the season in the second half gave Albacete their fourth victory in a row. With Universidad getting a point, Lleida are now in bottom place.

Recreativo Huelva are the only other team with a realistic chance of promotion, although they lost ground on everyone with a 2-1 defeat by Eibar. Barkero opened the scoring for the home side, and although Camacho equalised before half time, Eleder headed the winner in the second half. Recreativo drop right down to seventh, a point behind Atleti and Albacete. There is then a four point gap to Sporting and Eibar themselves, who have now gone nine games without defeat. Those two head a group of seven teams separated by four points, which includes Murcia who beat Levante 2-0 thanks to two goals in five minutes late in the first half by Loreto and Aguilar. Córdoba lost to Racing Ferrol 0-1, with a first half goal by Villa, and Extremadura won 2-0 against Jaén with two goals in the second half by on-loan youngsters David Karanka and by David Aganzo, his first since joining the club this winter. Leganés climbed away from the danger zone with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Elche, who ended the game with nine men after Redondo and Paco García got their marching orders in the second half. Miguel and Merino got the goals, one in each half. There is now a four point gap to the bottom four clubs, Getafe, Compostela, Universidad and Lleida, who are looking every day like the four teams destined to be relegated this season.