Recreativo Huelva beat Leganés 0-2 on Saturday evening, their third win in a row, to move into the top half of the table. Local manager Carlos Aimar was in charge for the last time before returning home after Argentine businessman Daniel Grinbank pulled out, but his side were unable to give him a happy sending-off. Borja did hit the crossbar for his side early in the second half, but Pernía put the visitors ahead after a corner was only partly cleared, and Uche made it two with a spectacular scissor kick ten minutes from the end. Leganés finished with ten men after Alessandria picked up a second booking shortly before the last goal.

The other two games on Saturday night ended all square, with Rubén getting two for Las Palmas as they came away from Terrassa with a 2-2 scoreline. Gallego put the home side ahead midway through the first half, but mistakes by Charcos and then Besora allowed the under 21 striker in twice to turn the score around before half time. Guillermo headed Maikel's cross past his own keeper soon after the restart to level the scores again, but the Catalans lost Besora to a second yellow card soon afterwards and Momo could have won it for the visitors when he hit the post later in the half.

Elche and Córdoba also shared the points in a 1-1 draw, a result which neither really wanted. Oscar Ruggeri was on the bench for the first time after his predecessor García Cantarero finally agreed terms to leave, and he saw his side go ahead in the second minute when Moisés headed home a corner. And the striker should have made it two from the penalty spot only a minute later after Jauregui brought down Nino, but the keeper made up for his mistake stopping the resulting spot kick. The visitors were awarded a penalty of their own though on the quarter hour mark when Pulpo González was fouled by Velasco, and González himself converted the kick. Both goalscorers could have added to their tallies after the break, but in the end there was no further score. (17.01.04)

Cádiz were held to a 2-2 draw on Sunday lunchtime by neighbours Xerez, who came from two goals down to save a point. The visitors had the early chances, but the hosts took the lead on the half hour mark when Oli scored with a diving header from Jonathan's cross. Mario made it two immediately after the restart, but local left back Raúl López got himself sent off for a second bookable offence and Calle pulled one back from the penalty spot midway through the second half. And a few minutes later Dani Pendín headed past Armando for a well deserved draw.

Sporting Gijon are the new leaders of the second division after the top two both lost. Goals from Bilic and Miguel gave the Asturians a 2-0 victory over Almería, their sixth home win in a row. Local keeper Roberto had not let a goal in at the Molinón stadium in all that time, but he had to be at his best to save free kicks from Lozano and Estebán early on. Juan hit the post for the Asturians before the break, but the first goal didn't come until twenty minutes from the end, when Bilic converted a penalty after Miguel was fouled in the area. Miguel added a second four minutes later after Juan and Dorado combined to set him up. Sporting ended the day two points clear at the top, and Almería continue to slide down the table after nine games without a win.

Leaders Numancia were surprisingly beaten 0-1 at home by bottom club Algeciras, and ended the day down in second spot. The Soría based side had not lost at home all season and the visitors had not won away, and all bets were on an easy home win. But the locals were caught napping by their opponents, and only a couple of good saves by Luis García from Bayarri and Armentano kept the scores level at the break. It was the turn of visiting keeper Iñaki to shine in the second half, stopping efforts from Pineda and Miguel Pérez, but in the end the Andalucians came away with a much needed three points after substitute Zárate picked up Armentano's pass to score just three minutes after coming on.

Second placed Levante also lost 1-0 to Poli Ejido, who move out of the relegation spots as a result. The windy conditions favoured the visitors in the first half, but Reggi and Ettien were unable to take advantage of chances offered to them. With the change of ends the hosts took the initiative, with De Nigris going close twice. But it was not until ten minutes from the end that the only goal came, Aira picking up the ball outside of the area after the defence failed to clear to beat Mora with a long shot.

Alavés followed up their cup victory over Valladolid with a 0-1 win at Ciudad de Murcia, and they are now only one point outside of the top three. Pepe Mel's side played a defensive game, and but took the three points when Quique De Lucas beat Tete with virtually their first shot at goal a quarter of an hour from the end. Keeper Gaspercic had saved the day earlier on stopping efforts from Camuñas and Turu Flores before the half time interval, and Güiza missed a couple of chances to give the home side the lead after the break.

Eibar bounced back from their cup defeat by Real Madrid, beating Getafe 2-0 to move above them in the table. The visitors had the best of the opening minutes despite the rainy conditions, and only good saves from Riesgo kept out Pachón and Michel. But Urzelai got on the end of Badiola's cross to put his side ahead midway through the first half, and Aragoneses had to be at his best to stop Llorente from scoring after the break. The on-loan Real Sociedad striker did beat the keeper a quarter of an hour from the end though to hand the Madrid based side only their second defeat of the season.

There were surprises at the bottom of the table, with Tenerife losing 0-1 to Málaga B to join Las Palmas in the relegation spots. With both Canary Island clubs struggling financially, this was the last thing they wanted. The only goal came with forty seconds on the clock, Geijo getting on the end of Nacho's cross to head past Baines. The visiting keeper was called upon several times after that to keep the score decent, in particular tipping an effort from Koke onto the bar before the break, and caretaker manager Martín Marrero has his work cut out if he is to save them from going down.

Rayo Vallecano inched further away from the bottom four after drawing 1-1 with Salamanca, although they must once again be ruing dropped points as the visitors equalised in the last minute. Biagini had put Jorge D'Alessandro's side ahead on the stroke of half time when he latched on to a loose ball to fire a shot into the back of the net. But the locals wasted several chances to increase their lead, and paid the price in the final minute when Tuni scrambled the ball home following a corner. (18.01.04)