The last round of second division games before the two week winter lay-off were scheduled for the middle of the week before Christmas, with one game brought forward to Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday and Thursday. Third place Eibar missed out on a chance to throw down the gauntlet to the rest, losing 1-2 to Recreativo Huelva to make it five games now without a win. Fagoaga put the Basques ahead midway through the first half, but his bad back pass on the hour mark let in Uche to equalise. The locals felt they should have been awarded goal by referee Arcas Piqueres when Garitano's shot bounced down from the crossbar onto (or over?) the goal line, and also had a penalty appeal turned down a few minutes later. With the game coming to an end local keeper Iraizoz tripped Uche just outside the area, and although Manu Del Moral ran the ball in to the empty net, the referee ruled that he had already halted play, disallowing the goal but giving the visitors a free kick and sending off Iraizoz. With all three changes made, defender Manuel took over in goal, but could do nothing to stop Viqueira's kick from entering the net just seconds later. Recre move up five places in the table pending the rest of the games. (21.12.04)

Leaders Cádiz were unable to make it eight wins in a row after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Ciudad Murcia on Wednesday night. Julián Rubio was in charge of the home side for the first time since taking over after Miguel Alvarez was fired on Monday, and he made five changes to his line up. And they put up a good fight, with Aguilar and Rivero going close early on, Rivero bringing a good save out of Armando and Güiza putting another good chance over the bar before the break. The only replies from the visitors were a couple of headers from Abraham Paz and another effort from Pavoni after the break which Javi Fernández had little problems dealing with. And in the end both sides settled for a point, which leaves the hosts still in the bottom four after going eleven games without a win.

Alavés closed the gap at the top to two points after beating bottom club Córdoba 1-2, the first time they have won in the Arcángel stadium in nine visits. Bodipo put Dmitri Piterman's side ahead in only the sixth minute after De Lucas set him up, and De Lucas wasted a good chance to score a second soon afterwards. The locals equalised against the run of play before the break though, Sarriegui putting through his own net under pressure from Pulpo González after Villa's header came back off the bar following a corner. Alavés were back in front though just a few seconds after the restart when Rubén Navarro took advantage of slack defending to score, and Nené could have made it three when he headed against the bar with the goal at his mercy. However Bonano had to keep out a late effort from Armentano to ensure the three points in the end.

Elche will be spending the Christmas break in the top three after beating Poli Ejido 3-1. Yosu Uribe's side took the lead as early as the second minute when Nino picked up a long pass from Moisés to beat the offside trap and score, and the striker added a second goal when he headed home a corner on the stroke of half time. Alfredo made it three ten minutes after the restart, following up after Kike could only push out a shot from Luis Gil, and Pedro Vega got one back soon afterwards with a low shot on a quick breakaway. The result was enough though to take them above Eibar on goal difference.

Two of last season's relegated sides, Celta Vigo and Valladolid, are hovering just a point outside of the top three though after winning their respective matches. Celta trounced Terrassa 1-4 to stake their claim for an immediate return to the top flight, their tenth game in a row without defeat. Canobbio started things off for the Galicians, beating Morales in the eighth minute, and although Rodríguez and Cristian both had chances before the break, José Ignacio added a second just two minutes after the restart. Juan Sánchez made it three midway through the second half, following up after Morales had saved Jandro's penalty, but the Catalans got back in the game, also from the penalty spot, Luis López converting the kick after Molist was fouled. There was still time for Jandro to add a fourth later on, ending the home side's brief revival after victories in their last two games.

Valladolid beat local rivals Salamanca 3-2 despite playing all the second half with ten men, a result which leaves the visitors just two places away from the drop zone. Sergio Kresic's side took the lead when Aduriz headed home his eleventh goal of the season following a corner with just three minutes gone, but midway through the first half Salamanca turned the scoreline around, Aurelio heading an equaliser from Afek's free kick and Lupidio putting his side ahead from the spot after Mateo had given away a penalty. Robles made it all square again shortly before the interval, but things looked bad for the hosts when the unfortunate Mateo got himself sent off before the half time whistle for a foul on Brit. However veteran striker Víctor came on to get the winner with a shot on the turn three minutes from the end, and a frustrated David Cano joined Mateo in the early bath after he too was shown a red card near the end.

Meanwhile the other side who were relegated last season, Real Murcia, kept their hopes of salvation alive with a 0-1 victory at Xerez which took them above city rivals Ciudad to nineteenth. Both sides had chances early on, but the visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Cuadrado beat Julio Iglesias with a free kick from the edge of the area. Mena hit the bar at the other end soon afterwards and missed another good chance after the break, but Iván Alonso could have increased the lead had he been able to find the target before the break. Although still in ninth place, Xerez have only won once in their last eight games, and fans called for the head of manager Paco Chaparro throughout the match.

Gimnàstic Tarragona extended their unbeaten run to eight games after drawing 1-1 at Almería, and the Catalans are now seventh in the table. Both goals came within two minutes of each other at the end of the first half, Acasiete heading the home side into the lead from Isaac's pass and Alfonso equalising straight away, again with a header from Pinilla's cross. Up to that point the visitors had been on top, Iván Ania in particular causing some problems for Cano from a couple of dangerous free kicks, but Galca could have won it for the home side when his free kick rattled the crossbar near the end.

Lleida lost ground on the leaders though after they were beaten 0-2 by Sporting Gijón, their second defeat in a row. The visitors were creating so many problems down the left wing that Miguel Rubio replaced Stankovic with Crusat in the middle of the first half, but even so Ismael "Irurzun" put them ahead when he took advantage of a mix up between Eduardo and full back Dorado to poke the ball into the net. The keeper then gave away a penalty just before the break, and although Ismael missed his kick, the referee ordered a re-take which Samuel stepped up to convert. Lezaun missed a couple of chances to pull one back after the break, and although Samuel was sent off for a second bookable offence with a quarter of an hour remaining, Oscar and Arnal both failed to take advantage in the closing minutes.

Tenerife were held to a 1-1 draw by Málaga B in the last match on Wednesday evening, and they have now gone four games without a win. The Canary Islanders got off to a good start when Fagiani beat Goitia with a free kick in the eleventh minute, but Perico levelled the scores later in the first half after Silva set him up. Fagiani hit the bar with another free kick before the break, and Goitia had to save from substitute Gavilán later on, but otherwise the visitors had the better chances in the second half, Keleman having to be at his best to save from Diego Castro and Abel, amongst others. The match was preceded by a minute's silence (as were many other games this week) for their ex president Javier Pérez, who died a few days earlier. (22.12.04)

Pontevedra and Racing Ferrol drew their Galician derby 1-1 on Thursday night, leaving the home side without a win at the Pasarón stadium all season. They were however able to save what was only their third point in twelve games thanks to a Javi Rodríguez penalty near the end after Jaio brought down substitute Juan Jesús. The locals had had the better chances earlier on, Bello Amigo saving from Adolfini and De Palmas clearing off the line from Charles before Mario Bermejo put the visitors ahead twenty minutes from the end. But Javi Rodríguez hit the post only a minute later and they got their reward in the end, even though it wasn't the win the fans so desperately wanted. (23.12.04)