Albacete took another step towards the first division with a 1-0 win over Tenerife, and they go back to first place pending Murcia's game on Sunday night. César Ferrando's side have now gone eighteen games without defeat, although this time it was hard work against a Canary Island team who had come to defend. Maikel had a goal controversially ruled out in the first half and wasted the best chance of the match after the break. However the home side were awarded a much protested penalty when Edu Moya brought down Delporte in the area in the second half, and Jandro stepped up to convert the kick. Tenerife have only picked up one point from their last five games, and slip down the table to tenth.

Xerez kept up their challenge, and caught up with fourth placed Levante (for 24 hours at least) after beating Oviedo 4-1. Zárate put them ahead after Moreno touched on Jesule's cross in the first half, and Canito added a second after the break following a Zárate corner. Pineda made it three from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Raúl, Mena headed home Musa's free kick for a fourth and Selu could have got a fifth if he had not hit the bar when free. Idiakez did get one back from the penalty spot after Moreno fouled Calvillo, but Oviedo drop back into the relegation zone and appear to be on their way down.

Compostela moved up to the top half of the table after beating Sporting 1-3, and if they can sort out their financial problems they could be safe for another season. It was not a good game though, with the goals coming thanks to mistakes from the keepers, and the local fans booed their players off at the end. The Asturians took the lead on the half hour mark when Tito misjudged a Dani Borreguero free kick, but a mistake by Valencia at the other end left Corredoira free to score into an empty net from thirty yards out. Maikel put the visitors ahead in the second half, and Sequeiros made sure of the three points three minutes from the end.

Córdoba moved further away from the drop zone with a 0-1 victory at Las Palmas on Saturday night. Either side could have scored before Moisés set up Montenegro for the only goal of the game on the half hour mark. Reggi hit the bar and Baiano and Rubén went close after the break, but the Andalucians held on for a vital three points. Las Palmas ended the day twelve points off the promotion spots, and could be even further adrift after tomorrow's matches.

Zaragoza stay in third place after drawing 2-2 at Numancia on Sunday lunchtime, and they maintain their five point gap over the chasing group. Paco Flores's side took the lead in the first minute when Galletti converted a cross from Vellisca. but Paco gave a penalty away after handling the ball in the area midway through the first half, and Fagiani levelled the scores from the spot. But before the interval the visitors had restored the lead, young striker Espadas heading Galletti's cross past Luis García. Ten minutes in to the second half both sides were down to ten men after Fagiani and then Cani were sent off for second bookable offences (referee Tristante Oliva showing 15 yellows and two reds in all), and with twenty minutes to go Miguel Angel Nuñez made it all square again when he got on the end of a Miguel Pérez free kick. And the Soria based side could have won it in the closing minutes if Lainez had not made excellent saves from Aranda and Ojeda.

Leganés climbed out of the bottom four after a 1-0 win over relegation rivals Racing Ferrol in the other match kicking off on Sunday morning. Both keepers were at work early on against their Nigerian counterparts, Raúl saving a header from Uche and Bello Amigo stopping an effort from Lawal. But it was Argentina's Calandria who got the only goal on the half hour mark, the ex Málaga forward taking advantage of a rare start to head on a long ball and round a defender before scoring. Uche tested Raúl again after the break, but the Madrid based side held on to take a vital three points, sinking the Gallicians further down into the drop zone.

Report on Sunday evening's games to follow.