Once again most of the leading sides play on Sunday, although there were four games in the second division on Saturday night. Surprisingly there were victories for the bottom two against teams fighting to reach the promotion spots, with Xerez beating Celta 1-0 to end a run of five defeats in a row and leave visiting coach López Caro on the verge of destitution. Viqueira got what was to prove the only goal with a well struck free kick on the stroke of half time, but the Galicians could have equalised soon after the restart when Perera just failed to turn in a George Lucas cross. Lucas was sent off a few minutes later though for a hard tackle on Ríos, and the visitors ended with nine men when Okkas was also shown a straight red near the end.

Xerez stay bottom though as their closest rivals Poli Ejido also won 2-0 against regional neighbours Sevilla Atlético. Kike, Juli and Toedtli all missed chances as the locals dominated play, but it was not until ten minutes from the end that Cerra set up Moreno for the first goal. Bello Serrans did well to keep out a Juan Pablo header as the visitors pushed for the equaliser, but Mario Bermejo wrapped things up with a second goal on a last minute counter-attack.

Elsewhere Eibar moved away from the danger zone with a 1-0 win over Cádiz. The Andalusians had the better of the first half, Cuéllar saving well from Natalio and Gustavo López hitting the post directly from a corner. But with two minutes to go to the break Martino's long free kick bounced past everyone and went into the net off the post. Cuéllar was called upon again after the break to keep out Gustavo López and Parri, and Beñat cleared off the line from Enrique in the dying minutes to ensure the three points for his side.

Córdoba and Tenerife drew their Saturday night match 2-2, a result which left both in mid-table. Pierini got on the end of a Cristian Alvarez free kick to open the scoring for the Andalusians in the twentieth minute, and Juanlu made it two on a rapid breakaway on the hour mark. With less than five minutes to go though Iriome pulled one back with an angled shot, and Arruabarrena made it all square after Nino's shot came back off the post with the game already in injury time. (08.03.08)

Sporting Gijón are out of the promotion spots after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hércules on Sunday lunchtime. The Asturians were in control right from the start, Michel shooting just over and Hidalgo hitting the bar and having another shot blocked before the break. Michel missed another chance soon after the restart, but then set up Kike Mateo to put his side ahead. But Ion Vélez equalised twenty minutes later after good work by Mariño, and Goikoetxea's side could have won it when Albacar fired a free kick against the bar in the last minute.

With all the big name clubs in the second division this season, nobody expected Numancia to be topping the table two thirds of the way through the season. However they moved further clear of the pack with a 1-0 victory over Racing Ferrol on Sunday evening. Rafa Jordà got the only goal in the twentieth minute, shooting past Queco Piña after picking up a pass from Juanra, and after that the only pooint of interest was the sending off of Racing coach Juan Veiga for protesting early in the second half.

Málaga stay four points behind the leaders after a 1-2 victory at Las Palmas. Hidalgo headed the Andalusians into the lead from a corner in the tenth minute, and they had several more chances before Peragón made it two midway through the second half following a long gallop the length of the pitch by Eliseu. Marcos Márquez got one back from the penalty spot in injury time, but it was too late to change the result and the defeat leaves the Canary Islanders back in the bottom four.

Real Sociedad took advantage of Sporting's draw to move above them to third after beating struggling Albacete 1-2. Nacho took advantage of slack defending to latch on to Víctor's pass and score in the seventh minute, and Jonathan had a few saves to make before Díaz de Cerio beat him for a second time on the half hour mark. Under pressure local coach Máximo Hernández made two changes straight away and a third at the break, but Víctor hit the post before Bauzá headed one back for the Manchegans. Víctor hit the bar again later on, but in the end the Basque side had to defend furiously to prevent their opponents from equalising.

Elche are still in promotion race as well, their 2-0 victory over Gimnàstic keeping them four points behind Real. Both goals came in a two minute period early in the first half, Luna opening the scoring for David Vidal's side with a header from Rodri's cross, and Trotta heading the second from José Veiga's corner soon afterwards. Abel Buades hit the upright at the other end before the interval, but Oscar Díaz could have extended the lead when he wasted a couple of chances late on.

Nàstic stay a point above the relegation spots, just ahead of Alavés, who climbed out of the bottom four (above Las Palmas on goal difference) after a 0-0 draw at home to Salamanca. The locals had the better of the first half hour, with Toni Moral, Gabri and Raúl Sánchez going close. But Quique Martín and Jorge Alonso had shots blocked either side of half time, and local keeper Bernardo had to make important saves from Martín and Acuña later in the second half.

Elsewhere Castellón kept their hopes of promotion alive with a 2-1 win over Granada 74. Tabares got on the end of Biagorri's cross to open the scoring for the locals midway through the first half, but Crespi equalised on the stroke of half time, heading Luque's free kick past Carlos Sánchez. The visitors were left with ten men though when Francisco was sent off for insulting an opponent, and Reggi got the winner just twenty seconds after coming on as substitute with a quarter of an hour to go. (09.03.08)