The first division took a break this weekend for international matches, but the there was a full programme of second division matches, with four taking place on Saturday.

A thrilling game in Asturias, where Sporting Gijón ran out 4-3 winners over fourth placed Ciudad Murcia to virtually ensure their place in the second flight for another year. Xavi Jiménez gave the visitors the lead with an angled shot on the half hour mark, but Jairo headed the equaliser from Diego Castro's cross five minutes later, and Michel put the Asturians ahead soon after the restart. Saizar levelled the scores again from the penalty spot after Jorge fouled Goitom, and referee Cero Grande awarded two more spot kicks in the next ten minutes, Javi Fuego restoring the lead for the locals after Ayoze tripped Pedro, and Goitom making it three all after Samuel was held back. Barral got the winning goal though with ten minutes to go after good work by Castro and Congo.

Las Palmas were not so lucky, the Canary Islanders still not fully out of danger after throwing away a two goal lead against Salamanca in the last three minutes to end up drawing 2-2. Top scorer Marcos Márquez put the locals ahead from the penalty spot seven minutes before the break after Tete brought down Txiki, and Cobas headed a second on the stroke of half time from a Trashorras corner. The three points seemed to be in the bag, but Math Gomes got one back with two minutes remaining of normal time, and with the game in injury time the visitors scrambled home the equaliser which the referee reported as an own goal by substitute Víctor.

The two other Canary Island sides met each other, bottom club Vecindario clocking up their third win in a row after beating their hosts Tenerife 0-2. Cristo tested visiting keeper Oliver a couple of times before Carrizo fired a free kick in off the bar to open the scoring shortly before the interval. And Morales got the second midway through the second half after a mix up between debutant keeper Raúl Navas and Manuel Castiñeiras. It was a fourth home defeat in a row for Casuco's side, and virtually ensured the coach will not be continuing at the end of the season.

Cádiz did finally win at home though, their 3-1 victory over Elche giving them the three points in the Ramón de Carranza stadium for the first time in over three months. Jonathan Sesma scored twice late in the first half, the first after collecting Miguel's pass and the second with a header from Enrique's cross. De Paula made it three towards the end of the second half after getting on the end of a cross from Sesma, and Gastón Casas got a late consolation for David Vidal's side in injury time. (02.06.07)

One more issue decided this weekend, Ponferradina joining Vecindario and Lorca in the second division B next season after losing 4-0 to Castellón. Natalio opened the scoring in the first half, beating debutant keeper David Sierra after Antonio López set him up, and Dealbert headed against the bar before the break. Tabares made it two after the restart following an Antonio López corner, and Víctor Espasadin headed past his own keeper before Aguirretxe rounded things off, again with the help of Antonio López, near the end. The result ensures that the East coast team will be staying up.

The last relegation spot is still not decided, although it looks as if Real Madrid Castilla will be the side going down after they could only draw 2-2 against nine man Real Murcia. Negredo gave them hope after connecting with Nieto's pass to put his side ahead in only the third minute, and things seemed to swing more in their favour when Samuel was sent off for a second bookable offence with only half an hour on the clock. However within seven minutes of the restart the home side were ahead, Adrián Martín picking up Gallardo's pass to score against his old side, and Richi forcing a second past Codina. Murcia were left with nine a couple of minutes later when Marañón also picked up a second yellow card, but they pulled back to defend and Michel's side only managed one more, youngsters Callejón and Parejo combining for the latter to equalise.

With two games to go, Castilla remain four points behind Alavés, who lost 1-2 to Valladolid. Borja put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute with a shot which deflected in off Pablo Casar, and although Arthuro levelled the scores soon afterwards after Alberto could only push out Angel's shot, Marcos combined with Alvaro Rubio to get the winner late in the second half. It was Valladolid's first victory in six matches, and they move on to 82 points, equalling the previous record which was actually held by Alavés themselves. With direct goal average taking preference over general in Spain at the end of the season, Alavés and also Las Palmas would be ahead of Castilla if they finished level with them on points, which means that the Vitoria based side only need two draws and the Canary Islanders are already safe.

Málaga though still have a mathematical chance of being relegated as they have a worse head-to-head record against Castilla, although they would have to lose both their last games and their rivals win theirs' after the Andalusians picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Almería. López Muñiz's side must be ruing the chance of a victory though after Hidalgo put them two up, the first from a penalty in the opening minutes after Couñago was brought down, and the second ten minutes before the break after Sandro set him up. However the visitors had Jesús Gámez sent off for a second booking soon after the restart, and Larrea headed one back a couple of minutes later from a De Palmas cross. And with five minutes to go Kalu Uche got on the end of another De Palmas cross to square the match. The draw means that Almería still have a possibility of winning the second division title, although they are now five points behind Valladolid.

Elsewhere there were three games with nothing at stake, including a match between Numancia and Poli Ejido which the locals won 3-1. The locals took the lead when Rafa Jordá headed home Del Pino's corner midway through the first half, but Paco Esteban headed against the post before Pedro Vega equalised soon after the restart. Substitute Gorka Brit won it for the home side though with two goals, the first a header from Beranger's cross and the second a penalty in injury time after Nagore was brought down, the visitors ending with ten men after Toedtli was shown a second yellow card.

Hércules drew 1-1 with already relegated Lorca in a match in which neither side really put in 100%, demonstrated by the fact that the referee didn't even show one yellow card. The only chances in the first half fell to visiting forward Yagüe, although the locals improved after the break and Farinós and Carmelo went close before Calandria put them ahead after picking up Montenegro's pass. Montenegro himself wasted an opportunity to add to the lead, but soon afterwards De Carlos latched onto a loose ball to equalise.

Finally Albacete and Xerez drew 0-0. a result which left the hosts in eighth place and the Andalusians in sixth. The smallest crowd of the season hardly had anything to cheer them up, and only the presence of a couple of promising youngsters such as the Narváez brothers (nephews of ex Atlético Madrid striker Kiko) made it more interesting. The best chance fell in fact to David Narváez after the break, but youth international Javi Martínez kept him out, with Calle also bringing a good save out of Julio Iglesias at the other end later on. (03.06.07)