Valladolid extended their lead at the top to seven points pending Sunday's games after beating Albacete 0-2, and they are now sure of the honorary title of winter champions. The first chance fell to the home side, Cañas going close from Parri's free kick, but an injury to the midfielder left the Manchegans without their best man. And Llorente and Mario Suárez got the goals in a three minute period midway through the second half, the first a header from an Oscar Sánchez cross, and the second following a back-heel pass from Llorente.

Sporting Gijón missed out on a chance to return to the promotion spots though after they lost 0-1 to Poli Ejido. The Asturians had already lost four times in the Molinón stadium this season, and they could have been behind when Toedtli headed against the woodwork and then when Moreno brought a good save out of Roberto before the break. Antonio Tapia's side got the goal they deserved though when Toedtli shot low past the keeper on a rapid counter attack twenty minutes from the end.

There were wins for two new managers this Saturday, Fabri at Alavés and David Vidal at Elche. Alavés recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory over struggling Lorca, who have now gone ten games since their last win. Astudillo started things off, turning in a De Lucas free kick in the tenth minute, and Rubén Navarro made it two early in the second half after Toni Moral set him up. Pablo Casar headed the third a few minutes later from Navarro's free kick, and Javi Rodríguez got a late consolation for the visitors after Porato could only push out a shot from Maikel.

Meanwhile Elche overturned an early penalty to win 1-2 at Castellón, their first victory in five games. Tabares opened the scoring for the locals in the seventh minute after Mario handled in the area, but Fernando Niño levelled the scores five minutes after the interval, heading past Oliva after his first effort came back off the post. And Katxorro got the winner on the hour mark with a long shot which the keeper couldn't stop from entering the net. The visitors ended with ten men after debutant Douglas was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time.

Elche are now level on points with Las Palmas, who lost 0-1 at home to Ciudad Murcia. The Canary Islanders were unlucky not to be ahead at half time, Nauzet rattling the crossbar and Txiki hitting the post. But a well struck free kick from Luque ten minutes in to the second half was enough to hand the three points to the visitors, who move up to sixth place, just a point outside of the promotion spots. (13.01.07)

Cádiz won 1-0 against local rivals Málaga on Sunday lunchtime, Lucas Lobos getting the winner in the ninetieth minute to end a run of four scoreless draws in the Ramón de Carranza stadium. Medina headed against the bar early on, and Jonathan Valle went close a couple of times at the other end either side of half time, but it looked as if honours would be shared until a shot from Lobos took a wicked deflection off central defender Armando and trickled in to the net.

Second placed Real Murcia stayed within four points of leaders Valladolid after a thrilling 4-3 win over bottom club Vecindario on Sunday evening. Ramón headed Lucas Alcaraz's side in front early on, and although Javi Morales equalised from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time, Gallardo restored the lead after picking up a pass from Iván Alonso just two minutes after the restart. Antoñito made it three soon afterwards following a corner, but Atxábal headed one back from a corner a minute later, and after Samuel got himself sent off for a second booking, Ekpoki made it all square again with a shot from 30 metres out. Numbers were evened up when Kilian was also sent off, but it looked as if the Canary Islanders had staged an epic comeback until Iván Alonso picked up a pass from Richi to drive home the winner in injury time.

A last minute victory for third placed Almería as well, a goal by Mena giving them a 1-0 win over nine man Real Madrid Castilla. Visiting keeper Codina saved efforts from Acasiete, Crusat and others before the break, but his side were left two players short when Granero and then Palencia both picked up second yellow cards early in the second half. Michel's side seemed to have held on though until Kalu Uche headed on Crusat's cross for Mena to score from close up.

Salamanca dropped two points behind Almería after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Tenerife, and they have not now won at home since mid November. Braulio and Quique Martín went close for the locals and Felip had to save from Sergio Torres and Frankowski at the other end in the first half, but just before the break the Canary Islanders were left with ten men when Héctor was sent for a second booking. Vela came on for his first game after a two month lay off for injury and immediately brought a good save out of Bernardo, but that was about it.

Hércules moved up to fifth in the table after beating Ponferradina 3-0, making it 13 points from their last five matches. Sendoa opened the scoring in the eleventh minute, and Farinós made it two from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after the ex Valencia and Villarreal midfielder was fouled by Fuentes. Montenegro got the third with just under an hour gone, and although Graff was sent off for a foul on Pereira soon afterwards, Aragoneses saved a twice taken Diego Ribera penalty to ensure himself a clean sheet and leave the Castilla-León based side further down in the drop zone.

Numancia moved above Xerez to seventh after beating the Andalusians 1-0. Bolo headed the only goal of the game from a cross by Sietes a couple of minutes before the break, but local keeper Juan Pablo was the real hero, saving an Ismael penalty in the second half after Juan Carlos Moreno handled in the area, and keeping out late efforts from Raúl Medina and Camuñas. Andoni Goikoetxea's side have now gone eight games without defeat, whereas their opponents have lost their last six games. (14.01.07)