Real Murcia moved up to second place pending Sunday's matches after beating Hércules 0-1 on Saturday evening, the first away win in almost a year for Lucas Alcaraz's side. The locals had the better of the first half though, with Juanlu and Albacar both bringing good saves out of Notario and Xisco Nadal shooting just wide a couple of times. But Agassa did well to push an effort from Iván Alonso on to the post, and with the first half coming to a close Pedro León beat the Togo international keeper with a strong shot. After that the Alicante side ran out of steam, and Richi and León could both have increased the lead after the restart.

Alavés were unable to repeat their midweek cup victory over Tenerife, the Canary islanders holding them to a 0-0 draw in the Mendizorroza stadium. The Vitoria based side got off to a lively start, with De Lucas and Toni Moral both having efforts blocked in the opening minutes. But the visitors fought back, with Raúl Sánchez shooting just wide and the referee failing to spot Astudillo handling inside the area. There were less chances after the restart though, and in the end both sides settled for a point.

Cádiz drop further down the table after falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Salamanca, who move up above their opponents to fourth. Zé Tó, Braulio and Quique Martín all had chances for the home side before Braulio beat Armando with an acrobatic header from Jorge Piña's cross midway through the first half. Felip had to make a couple of saves at the other end, but just a minute after the restart Braulio beat Armando for his second of the night, and the visiting keeper had his work cut out to limit the damage later on. (23.09.06)

Xerez hold on to top spot despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Valladolid on Sunday lunchtime. Camuñas headed the Andalusians into an early lead from Luque's corner, and should have had a second when he got through in front of goal only to be closed down by a defender. The visitors hardly managed a shot at goal in the first half, but after the restart De la Cuesta brought a couple of good saves out of Julio Iglesias following successive corners. And with a few minutes to go the central defender got on the end of Víctor's free kick to head the equaliser, the first goal the Andalusians had let in all season.

Albacete took advantage to move to within a point of Pepe Murcía's side with a 3-2 victory over Vecindario later in the day. The visitors took an early lead when Raúl Borrero headed Rondo's cross past Valbuena, but by half time the Manchegans had turned the scoreline around, Cámara heading in Parri's free kick and Biagini beating Keleman with an angled shot. The locals had several more chances before Barkero turned in Ferrón's pass with a quarter of an hour to go, but the Canary islanders pulled one back with a Mario Prieto free kick , and both sides hit the woodwork before the game ended.

Málaga moved back up to fourth in the table after a 1-3 win at Sporting Gijón. It was a typical game of two halves, with the Asturians well on top in the first 45 minutes and opening the scoring when Congo beat Arnau in a goalmouth scramble. The introduction of Sandro and Saúl at half time changed things though, and Salva and Silva took advantage of slack defending to put the visitors ahead within the first quarter of an hour of the restart. Local keeper Roberto did well to stop efforts from Salva, Saúl and Calleja, but Calleja wrapped things up ten minutes from the end.

Real Madrid Castilla made it two wins in a row after beating Numancia 0-1 at a rainy Pajaritos stadium. The only goal of the game came in the seventeenth minute when under 19 international Mata won a ball off Jaio outside of the area and ran on to beat Jun Pablo. For the rest of the game though Michel's side were on the back foot, and the locals felt themselves not to be awarded an equaliser when Jaio's header appeared to cross the line before Adán scooped it away late in the second half.

The other four games on Sunday evening ended all square, with Las Palmas throwing away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with ten man Elche. The Canary Island side were ahead with less than a minute on the clock when Darino headed home Nauzet's cross, and a minute later the visitors were left with ten men when Alfredo was sent off for insulting the referee. Darino headed his second of the night from a corner later in the first half, but Cachorro pulled one back with a spectacular volley soon after the restart and Gastón Casas saved a point for Elche with a long shot in off the bar midway through the second half.

Ciudad Murcia and Ponferradina drew 1-1, a result which leaves both sides level on seven points in mid-table. Both goals came early in the first half, Rubén Vega opening the scoring for the Castilla-León side after picking up a pass from Raponi on the counter-attack, and Luque equalising for the hosts with a low shot past Rubio from the edge of the area. Both sides had chances after that, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Poli Ejido and Lorca also drew 1-1, a result which leaves the home side on seven points and the visitors two behind them, still in the relegation zone. Poli got off to the better start but found themselves behind when Kiko beat Kike from the edge of the area on the half hour mark. Pedro Vega equalised a quarter of an hour in to the second half after latching on to Usero's cross, and Moreno could have won it for the Andalusians when he headed against the bar soon afterwards.

Another 1-1 draw as well between Castellón and Almería, a scoreline that neither of them needed to avoid the lower reaches of the table. The best action of the first half was a header against the bar by local defender Dealbert, but eight minutes in to the second half the visitors went ahead when Michel scored with a little help from Baigorri, the referee waving away appeals for offside. Castellón were awarded a penalty a few minutes later though after Mairata was sent off for a foul in the area, and although Westerveld saved Mario Rosas's spot kick, Natalio followed up to tuck the ball home for the equaliser. (24.09.06)