Elche moved up to second in the table pending Sunday's games after beating Terrassa 0-1 on Saturday evening. Neither side could make much headway in a first half in which the only chances were a header just wide by visiting striker Moisés and an effort at the other end by Maikel which was turned away for a corner. Rubén came close to putting the locals ahead after the restart, but with twenty minutes to go Nino got the only goal of the game on the follow up after Zárate had set up Moisés for a shot at Morales. Zárate could have made it two soon afterwards, but the Catalans may well have saved a point had Maikel been able to beat Unanua in the final minutes.

Valladolid lost ground on the leaders though after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Pontevedra, who had not won at home all season before this game. Sergio Kresic's side had the better of the early play, with Sousa shooting wide and Aduriz having a penalty appeal turned down. But just a minute later Capdevila put the Galicians ahead after the defence failed to clear Luciano's cross, and Javi Rodríguez made it two on the stroke of half time when he headed home Capdevila's centre. Valladolid were left with ten men when Aduriz got a second booking for trying to score with his hand on the hour mark, and the locals took advantage to get a third when a shot from Charles deflected in off a defender. Numbers were evened up in the end though after Luciano also picked up a second yellow card.

Tenerife moved up safely to mid-table after beating Ciudad Murcia 0-1, a result which leaves the home side further down in the drop zone. The Canary Islanders had a chance to take the lead with a quarter of an hour on the clock when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Dani on Limones, but Hidalgo missed the spot kick. And both sides were left with ten men by the break after Luque and then Jesús Vázquez were given second yellow cards. The hosts should have taken the lead when Godino shot wide with the goal at his mercy after Aguilar set him up midway through the second half, but a couple of minutes later Keko headed home a pass from Limones to give his side the three points.

A 0-1 victory as well for Málaga B at Almería, a second win in a row for José Marí Bakero's side which spoilt the debut of new coach Fabri González. The home side had lost their last three games, and they were struck a blow in the pre-match warm up when keeper Valerio injured himself and had to be replaced by Cano. Both sides had their chances early on, Paco Esteban shooting wide for the visitors and Luna setting up Jamelli for him to miss the target with only the keeper to beat. Málaga took the lead though just before the interval when Esteban produced a dazzling run before setting up Geijo, and they could have won by a bigger margin had Cano not kept out efforts by Alberto and Esteban in the second half. (19.02.05)

Sporting Gijón came back from two goals down to beat Racing Ferrol 3-2 on Sunday lunchtime. Carlos put the Galicians ahead after chipping keeper Roberto on a rapid counter-attack on the stroke of half time, and three minutes after the restart second division Pichichi Mario Bermejo made it two with his nineteenth goal of the season. Local manager Marcelino brought on Biagini though, a player who had not made many appearances due to a series of injuries since joining from Rayo Vallecano, and three minutes later Samuel pulled one back for the Asturians after a good team move. Biagini levelled the scores ten minutes from the end, and with the game heading for a draw a shot from the Argentine forward was blocked by David Franch with his arm, Samuel stepping up to convert the resulting penalty and give his side a win which takes them level on points with their opponents.

Leaders Cádiz were held to a 1-1 draw at Gimnastic Tarragona on Sunday evening, although they were still at the top of the table at the end of the weekend. The Andalusians started well, Pavoni almost surprising Valencia from a free kick in only the second minute, but Bolo and Pinilla both went close at the other end before Bolo got on the end of Codina's cross to head the hosts in front midway through the half. Jonathan Sesma wasted a chance to equalise before the break, but three minutes after the restart half time substitute Velázquez found Abraham Paz with a lofted pass for him beat the keeper and level the scores. Visiting keeper Armando had to be at his best later on though to keep out Bolo and Buades and ensure a point for his side.

Celta moved up to second place, just a point now behind Cádiz, after beating promotion rivals Recreativo 1-2. The locals dominated the early minutes, Manu del Moral shooting just wide, but with just under half an hour gone Gustavo López slipped the ball through to Jonathan for him to shoot wide of Luque. Quique Hernández threw on two extra forwards at the break, and Uche levelled the scores with an angled shot past Pinto after taking on two defenders. But eight minutes from the end substitute Vryzas got on the end of Jandro's free kick to head home the winner, making it four victories in a row for the Galicians since the turn of the season.

Eibar started their game with a chance to go to the top of the table, but in they end they dropped out of the promotion spots altogether after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Poli Ejido. The match nearly didn't go ahead due to a heavy rainstorm, and kick off was delayed for over an hour until the referee was finally persuaded both sides to go ahead. With twenty seconds the Basque side had their first chance, Kike saving at point blank range from Llorente, but there was little to talk about after that until Toedtli forced a good save out Iraizoz on the stroke of half time. Kike did well to stop a double effort from Oskitz and David Silva on the hour mark, but things came to a grinding half as the snow started to fall, and the referee had to stop the game temporarily near the end to clear the touchlines.

Alavés have been rapidly dropping out of the promotion race after ending the first half of the season as winter champions, and they were beaten 2-3 by Real Murcia to make it four defeats in a row. Murcia's newly appointed manager Casuco joined too late to take over for this match, but he was in the stands to watch Juanma got on the end of Iván Alonso's headed pass to turn the ball in to the net on the quarter hour mark. Epitié equalised two minutes later with a glancing header from De Lucas's free kick, and Téllez put the Vitoria based side in front soon after the restart with a free kick. But the locals were left with ten men a few minutes later after Sarriegui picked up a second booking, and the visitors took advantage to level the scores Acciari heading in Luismi's free kick. And with twenty minutes to go, Iván Alonso converted a twice taken penalty after Téllez fouled Juanma to give his side three points which takes them to the verge of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Xerez lost ground on the leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw in the last minute by bottom side Córdoba. Bilic went close for the visitors early on, but Del Pino put the home side in front in the twelfth minute with a volley from outside of the penalty area. Mena and Lekic could have added to the lead later in the first half, and Del Pino should have scored a second after the restart when he failed to find the target in front of goal. But their Andalusian neighbours were always a threat, and with the game coming to an end Villa latched on to a loose ball to save a point which keeps his side off the bottom of the table.

Xerez are gradually being caught by Lleida, who beat Salamanca 2-1 to move back up to the top half of the table. Crusat gave the Catalans the lead in the fourth minute, following up after Jon Ander could only parry a long shot from Rubén, and Sergio Rodríguez and Crusat both had chances to add to the scoreline later on. But the visitors went close when David Cano shot just wide of the post, and midway through the second half Brit made it all square when he connected with Chupri's cross from the right to beat Rangel. Their joy only lasted two minutes though before substitute Oscar García headed home Escoda's centre to restore the lead and leave Felipe Miñambres's side only just above the bottom four. (20.02.05)