Celta moved up into the promotion spots pending Sunday's games with a 0-2 win over Gimnastic Tarragona on Saturday evening. Kicking off in a hailstorm, the locals adapted quickly to the conditions and Diego Torres tested Pinto twice early on. But the Galicians took the lead just two minutes in to the second half when Cannobio surprised Juanjo Valencia with a long shot, and Jandro added a second with another shot from outside of the area twenty minutes later. Nàstic substitute Bolo came close to pulling one back when his long shot bounced back off the crossbar, but his side could do no more and they fell to their third defeat in a row. Celta take over third spot, level on points with Cádiz and Eibar and just two behind leaders Alavés, all of whom play tomorrow.

Xerez are only three points behind the Galicians though after beating Salamanca 1-0, their third victory in a row under new manager Enrique Martín. The Andalusians totally dominated the first half, Mena, Cachorro and Camuñas all failing to convert chances. But ten minutes before the break Mena made up for his earlier misses when he got on the end of Raúl Molina's pass to beat Jon Ander. The visitors (for whom manager Miñambres was sent off for protesting close to half time) didn't manage a shot on goal until the hour mark, when Lupidio put Tete under threat for the first time. Ander kept out an effort from Lekic soon afterwards, but Salamanca could still have saved a point had Tete not got a hand to Deus's late header. (05.02.05)

Recreativo are back in the hunt after beating leaders Alavés 0-2 on Sunday lunchtime to move to within three points of the promotion spots. Chuchi Cos's side were missing five of their first choice players, and the visitors took advantage to push forward right from the start, Uche hitting a post in only the second minute, and Ramón heading against the bar later in the first half. Luque saved an effort from Papa Thiaw at the other end, but Recre took the lead early in the second half when Sarriegi turned a dangerous cross past his own keeper. Cos threw on his remaining forwards, but they were caught out on a quick counter-attack in the last minute, Azkorra getting his first goal since joining the Andalusians on loan from Athletic Bilbao. (06.02.05)

The result leaves the second division promotion race wide open, with the top eight only separated by six points by the end of the weekend. Cádiz took advantage of Alavés's slip up to return to top spot after coming from behind to beat Lleida 1-3 on Sunday evening. Sergio Rodríguez put the Catalans ahead, driving the ball back in past Armando after Dorado's shot came back off the bar in only the second minute, but Oli volleyed home an equaliser and then set up Pavoni for him to score with a spectacular overhead kick before the break. Escoda hit the bar and Stankovic went close with a free kick as the home side pushed to get back on level terms after the interval, but after Lleida's Rubén and Cádiz's De Quintana were sent off for second bookable offences, Jonathan Sesma wrapped things up in injury time.

Eibar returned to the promotion zone after just 24 hours out of it, a 0-0 draw against Málaga B enough to take them back above Celta. It was a disappointing result though for the locals, who totally dominated the match. Llorente headed a first chance over the bar early on, and the Basque side had an appeal for a goal turned down when visiting keeper Goitia stopped Valera's header on the line. Goitia kept out efforts from Llorente and Valera later in the first half, and Llorente shot over the bar as the pressure continued after the break. José Marí Bakero's five man defence held firm though, and they could have snatched an undeserved victory in the last minute when Diego Castro chipped a shot just over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

There was a similar result at Ciudad Murcia, where Elche came away with a point which keeps them two points behind the Basque side. The locals had the better chances in the first half, Trotta saving the day twice with a clearance from Luciano and a tackle on Güiza as both were about to score, and the only reply from Yosu Uribe's side was a header wide of the target from Moisés. Both sides were left with ten men when Espejo and Azkoitia were shown second yellow cards, and the home side once again came closest to scoring, Luciano missing a sitter, Aguilar hitting the post and Trotta once again clearing a late effort from Cuevas off the line.

Valladolid moved back up level with Elche after a 0-2 win at Tenerife, somewhat spoiling the home debut of coach José Antonio Barrios. The visitors were on top right from the start and went ahead midway through the first half when César Belli failed to clear Victor's cross, leaving Sousa free to shoot into the top corner of the net. Cristo and Hidalgo missed chances for the Canary Islanders either side of half time, but otherwise Sergio Kresic's team were in control, and shortly after Belli was sent off for a second booking, Víctor picked up a pass from Aduriz to score into an empty net. It could have been more when Alvaro hit the bar and Iglesias saved from Oscar, and the game ended in a brawl after a reckless tackle by Fagiani earned him the red card and left his side with nine men.

An extraordinary result in Almería, where Racing Ferrol ran out 1-6 winners after the locals had two men sent off in the first half. Second division Pichichi Mario Bermejo helped himself to four, including an early penalty for which Acasiete was shown a red card, and a second goal a few minutes later after a mistake by Cervián. Galca was given his marching orders just before the interval for a second bookable offence, but things picked up for the locals after the restart when Jamelli pulled one back, and Ferrol's Toni was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. However Carlos set up Bermejo for his hat-trick and got a fourth goal himself, and both players scored again later on for the final result. Ferrol's euphoria was dampened though by a 24 hour bus ride home through rain and snow, and Almería's caretaker coach Alfonsín could see his brief spell in charge end fairly soon.

Sporting Gijón beat struggling Real Murcia 2-0 with two goals in the first half to move up safely to mid-table and leave their opponents further down in the drop zone. Pablo Lago latched on to Ismael's cross to open the scoring with just over twenty minutes gone, and a minute later his side had a penalty appeal turned down when Urzelei brought down Ismael in the area. The Asturians were awarded a spot kick though close to half time when Calandria was fouled by Valera, Ismael tucking his shot past Juanmi. And after a brief but ineffective period of activity by the visitors, young substitute Omar could have increased the lead when he crashed a shot against the post.

Terrassa also pulled away from the danger zone after beating Poli Ejido 2-0. The Catalans' new signing Bruno Cazerine got the first goal midway through the first half after Juan Carlos set him up, but Morales had to be at his best soon afterwards to keep out efforts from Mara and Pedro Vega. Juan Carlos came close to scoring a quarter of an hour after the restart when he shot just wide, but a couple of minutes later the winger won himself a penalty after Jacobo brought him down, converting the kick himself for the final result.

Meanwhile the bottom two Pontevedra and Córdoba are looking even more like relegation candidates after their 1-1 draw left both well adrift of the rest. New coach Alberto Argibay was unable to turn round the fortunes of the Galicians, who have yet to win at home this season, and they could have been behind at the break after Sérvulo and Cristian Alvarez both failed to convert chances. Changui gave the home side hope when he put them in front with an overhead kick on the hour mark, but just three minutes later Pierini got on the end of a free kick to head home the equaliser. (06.02.05)