Soccer-Xerez earn elite debut, ex-UEFA Cup finalists Alaves down

MADRID, June 13 (Reuters) - Tenerife, Xerez and Real Zaragoza were promoted to Spain's top division on Saturday, Xerez for the first time in their history.

Tenerife return after seven seasons in the second tier while Zaragoza are coming straight back up.

Alaves, UEFA Cup finalists in 2001, were relegated to the Segunda B division, the third tier of Spanish football, despite beating Alicante 1-0.

With one match left, Canary Islanders Tenerife top the table on 81 points after their 1-0 win at Girona, Xerez also have 81 in second thanks to a 2-1 victory over visiting Huesca and Zaragoza are on 80 in third following a 3-1 win at Cordoba.

Hercules have 75 points in fourth after they won 4-1 at home to Albacete but can no longer catch Xerez.

The top three replace Recreativo Huelva, Numancia and Real Betis in the Primera Liga next season.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Dave Thompson; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)