Zaragoza opened up a four point gap at the top of the table after beating managerless Numancia 1-0, and they are already looking a good bet for a first time return to the top flight. Paco Flores' side have now gone ten games without defeat, the last six of which without letting in a single goal, thanks to good performances by keeper Lainez. Galletti scored the only goal on the stroke of half time, but otherwise the game was a hard fought affair, with little to choose between the two sides. Caretaker manager Máximo Hernández was in charge for the first time for the visitors after Manu Sarabia was fired midweek, and the defeat takes them down to next to bottom place.

Levante fell to their first home defeat, losing 0-1 at the hands of an improving Salamanca, although they still keep second place ahead of Xerez. The Valencia based side lost keeper Rafa with less than a quarter of an hour gone when he was knocked unconscious and had to be rushed off to hospital, and his replacement Aizpurúa had plenty of work in the first half. The locals came back later on, inspired by Mijatovic who was returning after an injury, but Quique Martín (who was let off a one match ban midweek) beat the keeper with a curling shot after a short free kick to give Salamanca their third win in a row and take them up to sixth place.

Racing Ferrol lost out on the chance to close up on the leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Leganés. Visiting keeper Sergio Vera kept out the Racing forwards in the fist half, and his side took the lead soon after the break when Lambea bent a shot past Bello Amigo following Miguel Angel's corner. The Gallicians piled on the pressure though, and got their reward when Angel Cuéllar scored directly from a corner kick twenty minutes from the end.

Almería's third victory in a row, this time 2-1 against Badajoz, took them away from the relegation spots and above their opponents up to twelfth place. The locals took the lead in the seventh minute when Juanlu won the ball on the edge of the area and passed in for Javi Peña to score from close up, but were reduced to ten men soon afterwards when César picked up a second yellow card. Even so Francisco extended the lead from the penalty spot after Nuno fouled Juan Jesús, and Badojoz could only manage a consolation goal from Zé Tó in the last minute.

Córdoba came from behind twice and ended up saving a point in a 2-2 draw against Las Palmas. Both goals for the visitors came from their under 21 internationals, Angel giving them the lead early on and Rubén putting them back in front after the break after Whelliton had headed an equaliser. The Brazilian striker hit the post for the home side before Platero finally levelled the scores again. The point was not enough though to take them out of the bottom four.

Another under 21 striker, Sporting Gijon's David Villa, is the leading Pichichi in the second division after hitting his fifth in just over a week and his eighth of the season. His two goals in the first quarter of an hour set his side on the way to a 2-3 away win at Compostela to move them away from the drop zone. Aguado pulled one back for the Gallicians, but they lost Chema to a second booking before half time, and Rubén put the Asturians further ahead before Adriano scored with a penalty in the last minute.

Poli Ejido's run of eight games without defeat ended when they were beaten 3-0 Murcia on Sunday lunchtime, and they miss out on the chance to move up to third place. David Vidal's side were two in front by the break, Tito opening the scoring in the tenth minute from the penalty spot after Aira fouled Ismael and Richi adding a second five minutes before half time, heading home a cross from Maciel. Murcia were left with ten men when Acciari picked up a second booking, but Ismael made it three on the hour mark with an individualist goal. Murcia end their own run of four games without a win and go above their opponents to fifth spot.

Elche kept up their unbeaten away record after drawing 1-1 at Getafe. The home side went close twice early on through Luis López and Vivar Dorado, but the visitors scored first from the penalty spot after López brought down Meca, who converted the spot kick himself. The referee awarded a second penalty though in the second half to Getafe, sending off Velasco for a second yellow card after he brought down Estévez, and Luis López beat Toni from the spot to make it all square. Toni saved the day in the dying minutes though, stopping an effort from Borja. (08.12.02)

Xerez put their disputes behind them and moved up to third place after coming from behind to beat bottom club Oviedo 1-2. Sergio gave the Asturians the lead in a dull first half, heading past Mora after the keeper had saved from Idiakez. However Calle equalised soon after the break with a shot which took a deflection off Dani Pendín, and Mena scrambled the ball over the line ten minutes from the end for the winner. Oviedo have now gone eleven games since their last victory in the Nuevo Tartiere stadium.

Bernd Schuster's side overtake Albacete, who could only draw 1-1 at Tenerife, the tenth time this season that the Canary Island team has shared the points. Iván Ania put the home side in front in the fifth minute with a free kick from outside the area which beat Roa, but Jesús Perera levelled the scores later in the half from the penalty spot after Basti was fouled by Oscar Alvarez. Basti missed a chance to put the visitors ahead before the break, but Martí, Alexis and Jesús could all have scored for Tenerife in the second half.

A 1-1 draw as well at Eibar, where Terrassa came back to save a point with a late goal from Monty. Alex opened the scoring for the Basque side in the eighth minute, and Garitano almost made it two a minute later. Eibar keeper Riesgo went off with a broken nose in a clash with Juanjo a few minutes afterwards, the referee turning down claims for a penalty, and his replacement Basauri made important saves from Juan Carlos and Moreno before Monty finally beat him with a shot from the edge of the area. (07.12.02)