Valladolid started the second half of the season as they had ended the first, a 1-0 victory over Sporting Gijón taking them nine points clear of their nearest rivals pending Sunday's games. García Calvo got the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time, heading home Alvaro's free kick to make it twenty-one games in a row without defeat. The visitors could well have saved a point though despite having Michel and then Samuel sent off by an over-zealous referee for very rigorous second yellow cards in the second half, Congo firing a low shot inches wide of the post in the last minute.

Xerez faltered once again in their fight to get back into the promotion spots, a 0-0 draw against Las Palmas leaving them still four points off the top three. Pedro Ríos missed a fourth minute penalty for the locals after Abel Aguilar was fouled in the area, and both sides hit the woodwork a couple of times later in the game. Despite the point Las Palmas stay down in the relegation spots.

Ponferradina moved level with the Canary Islanders on points after a thrilling 4-3 win over Albacete. The Castilla-León side were three up in just half an hour, Nacho starting things off with a deflected shot, Raponi converting a free kick and debutant Baha catching the keeper off his line with a shot from the halfway line. Calle headed one back from a corner, but Raponi made it four shortly before the break and it appeared to be all over. However Rubén Vega was sent off for a second booking, and a Cañas free kick and another from Calle took the visitors close to an epic comeback.

Lorca drop further down into the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 against Numancia. Del Pino took advantage of a defensive mistake to put the visitors ahead with just under half an hour gone. But Fukuda was shown a straight red for a foul on Xavi Moro three minutes before half time, and Boris followed him down the tunnel near the end for a second yellow card to leave Goikoetxea's side with nine men. And in the fourth minute of injury time Maikel headed home the equaliser to save a point for the locals.

Real Madrid Castilla are now only two points above the bottom four after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Castellón. The "offspring" of both coaches were playing for either side, and Michel's son Adrián opened the scoring in the first half. Negredo missed a penalty and had a goal disallowed before the interval, but Pepe Moré's son Xavi set up Natalio for the equaliser four minutes after the restart. (27.01.07)

Real Murcia are the only side who are anywhere near Valladolid, and they consolidated second spot with a 1-0 win over Salamanca on Sunday lunchtime. Pedro León got the goal twenty minutes after the break with an angled shot after Antoñito set him up. But Quique Martín missed a last minute penalty for the visitors which could have saved them a point. Javi López's side have only won once now in the last nine games, and they drop down to eighth as a result.

Almería stay in third spot despite a 2-1 defeat at Tenerife on Sunday evening. All the goals came in the first half, with ex Almería striker Raúl Sánchez beating Westerveld to open the scoring in the sixth minute. Kalu Uche headed home Corona's corner to equalise a quarter of an hour later, but Iriome turned in Oscar Pérez's cross a few minutes later to restore the lead and take the Canary Islanders away from the danger zone.

Cádiz are now only two points behind Almería after coming from a goal down to beat bottom club Vecindario 1-2. Ex Cádiz striker Mirosavljevic headed in Michel's cross in the seventeenth minute to put the Canary Islanders in front. But two goals in a minute turned the scoreline around, Medina heading Pavoni's pass past Keleman on the hour mark, and Nano adding the second with an angled shot. The Andalusians have now gone eleven games without defeat.

Poli Ejido joined the promotion race after beating fellow contenders Ciudad Murcia 2-0. Víctor Salas got the first in the eighth minute after Ortíz set him up, and Ortíz himself headed the second from Cristian's cross five minutes later. It could have been more though as Cristian hit the bar and Toedtli missed a couple of good chances after the break.

Elche beat Alavés 1-0 to clock up their third win in a row under new manager David Vidal. Gastón Casas headed the only goal with ten minutes on the clock, Miguel making sure with the ball already crossing the goal line. Casas could have added a second when he missed a penalty after the restart, but they had already done enough to take the three points and move away from the bottom spots.

Málaga and Hércules cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw, leaving both floating around mid-table. With Salva on his way to Levante, local coach Muñiz lined up without a recognised striker. Popo and Jonathan Valle came closest to scoring for his side either side of half time, but even when the visitors were down to ten men after Carmelo was sent off for kicking Silva they were unable to score. (28.01.07)