Recreativo Huelva's three-year stay in the Primera Division came to an end as Racing Santander's 1-0 win at the Nuevo Colombino condemned them to relegation.

The home side were already up against it prior to their 37th round clash as they were four points adrift of safety and they were handed few favours by a Racing side who are now mathematically safe.

Giant Serbia striker Nikola Zigic grabbed the only goal with 13 minutes to go to seal Recre's fate.

Zigic was a menace throughout and he had his first effort on goal inside the first minute with a shot which flew over the bar.

Racing threatened again in the fourth minute, Jonathan Pereira trying his luck from just outside the area but home goalkeeper Asier Riesgo was able to make the save.

Recre finally managed an effort on goal five minutes later with Jesus Vazquez nodding Jose Manuel Casado's corner just wide of goal.

The home side were offering more of a threat coming forward and Javi Guerrero forced Racing keeper Antonio Tono into a smart save with a drive from 25 yards.

Racing were still looking dangerous on the break, though, and the lanky Zigic ought to have done better after 29 minutes than see his 12-yard shot blocked by Alain Nef's brave challenge.

All the action in the opening half an hour had been lacking in conviction with Marco Ruben finally upping the ante 38 minutes in with a shot which Tono was forced to tip over the bar.

Ruben tested Tono once more two minutes later but, again, the Racing keeper was up to the task.

Pereira was proving one of Racing's more impressive players and he twice tested Riesgo at the start of the second period with shots from long range.

Although it was Recre who desperately needed a goal, it was Racing who looked the more likely as the match went on.

Mehdi Lacen shot wide from 12 yards while Oscar Serrano also saw an effort blocked by Nef as the visitors pressed.

Zigic then came close with a close-range header from Gonzalo Colsa's cross with Riesgo producing a fine finger-tip save to turn it over the bar.

Zigic then headed the resulting corner wide.

He made no mistake shortly after though, converting Pereira's right-wing cross at the far post.

Recre must have sensed the game was up, especially as results elsewhere were also going against them.

The best they could manage in response to going behind was a weak shot from Rafael Barber which drifted wide of goal.

Edu also missed the target in injury-time as Racing went in search of a second but the visitors had already done enough.