Lorca moved in to third spot pending Levante's game on Sunday with a 2-3 victory at Tenerife. All the goals came in the second half after the locals had dominated the first 45 minutes, with the visitors opening the scoring when half time substitute Sava scrambled the ball over the line. Cristian Alvarez equalised on the hour mark following an indirect free kick, but Xavi Moro headed his side back in to the lead and Maldonado put the game out of the home side's reach before Toñito got one back in the last minute.

Almería lost ground on the leaders after a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Albacete, and they ended the day still two points off the top three. The visitors were on top in the first half, Aranda opening the scoring seven minutes before the break and Parri putting the Manchegans two up with a free kick on the stroke of half time. Jonathan Soriano replied for the hosts soon after the restart after Luna's effort came back off the bar, but Sanzol kept out the local attackers after that. The result was another blow for Paco Flores, who could be out of a job this week.

With six games still to go though any one of seven or eight sides could go up, and Numancia put themselves back in the running with a 3-1 win over Elche. Del Pino opened the scoring for Andoni Goikoetxea's side with a first minute header, and although Hamilton got himself sent off, Palacios made it two on the half hour mark. Numbers were evened up when Bernaus was given a second booking before the break, and Toledo headed one back for the visitors before Montenegro wrapped things up with a goal directly from a corner kick.

Sporting Gijón are floating safety in midtable, but they will be disappointed with their 1-1 draw at home to bottom club Eibar. The game only livened up in the final minutes, visiting keeper Rubén Falcón saving from Sastre and Calandria also trying his luck before Juan fired the Asturians in to the lead with five minutes to go. But just three minutes later Jaime took advantage of slack defending to beat Roberto and earn a fairly meaningless point for his side.

Castellón appear to be out of danger after beating Real Murcia 2-1, their fourth win in a row under Pepe Moré. Raúl Jiménez had to keep out Iván Alonso in the first minute, but the locals went ahead soon afterwards with a Jonan García penalty, and Tabares got a second midway through the first half. Tato picked up a pass from Salgueiro to score a late consolation goal for Sergio Kresic's side, but it couldn't prevent them from being caught by their opponents on points. (06.05.06)

Second placed Gimnastic Tarragona lost 1-0 at Real Madrid Castilla on Sunday lunchtime, although they are still five points clear of third placed Lorca. The Catalans found themselves behind when Negredo chipped Rubén Pérez in the ninth minute, and never really got going. Nano and Llera did test Cobeño after the restart, but Rubén Pérez had to be at his best to stop Jurado and Adrián Martín from increasing the lead after the break.

The second division still has a month and a half to go before their season ends, but leaders Recreativo took another step towards a return to the top flight with a 0-2 win at already relegated Málaga B. Over 90% of the 10,000 crowd came from Huelva to support their side, and they saw Uche score twice before the break, the first after good work by Valencia and the second with an individualist goal. Gastón Casas missed a couple of chances after the break, but the result was never in doubt and Recre have opened up an eight point gap over the fourth placed side.

Levante are the current incumbents of that spot after dropping out of the top three following a 2-1 defeat at Ciudad Murcia, who move up to within two points of their rivals as a result. Luque put Abel Resino's side ahead on the quarter hour mark after picking up a pass from Goitom, and the midfielder returned the favour with a free kick fifteen minutes later which the Swedish striker headed past Cavallero. Ciudad's keeper Jaime was sent off before the break though for handling outside of the area, and Ian Harte got one back from the penalty spot after Mané pushed over Manchev soon after the restart.

No less than six teams are separated by three points in the fight for third place, with Xerez rejoining the group after a 2-0 win over Racing Ferrol. Bajic fired Lucas Alcaraz's side in to the lead following a corner midway through the first half, and although Bordeau went close at the other end, Camuñas cut his way through the defence to score a second goal just a few minutes in to the second half.

The Galicians themselves drop further down into the bottom four, as do Lleida, who lost 3-2 at Valladolid despite the presence of their new coach David Vidal. Bilic got both goals for the Catalans to take him level with Soldado at the top of the Pichichi chart, the first from the penalty spot early on after Curbelo fouled Santos, and the second to level the scores at two all after goals from Llorente and Víctor at the start of the second half had turned the scoreline around. But it was scant consolation in the end as Llorente beat Rangel late on to help his side move away from the danger zone.

Hércules also distanced themselves from the bottom four with a 1-0 win over Poli Ejido. After a dull first half Moisés tested Kike a couple of times before setting up Sisi for what was to be the only goal of the game with twenty minutes to go. The win takes the Alicante based side level with their opponents on points. (07.05.06)