Zaragoza head the villains table as we move in to day 6. The disciplinary committe gave Paco a two match ban after he was sent off last weekend, although Juanele was let off with a one match suspension despite his second sending off in a week. Mallorca's Eto'o also got a two match ban after getting his marching orders for insulting a linesman, although Mallorca are appealing to allow him to play at the weekend.

There were four players sent off in the midweek matches, including the fastest expulsion in the history of Spanish football. The match was only 19 seconds old when Tenerife's Marioni went in hard on Sevilla's Fredi, and referee Megía Dávila had no doubts producing the red card. Marioni was also sent off last season by the same referee. Real Madrid's Munitis also got a direct red card for kicking out at Olías in their match at Las Palmas, his first ever sending off. That left his team with 10 men with the score at 2-2, and they went on to lose 4-2.

A similar situation too in the game between Zaragoza and Real Sociedad, where the visitors lost after Aranburu was sent off near the end. The young midfielder was the second Real Sociedad player to see red in consecutive matches after Loren got his marching orders the weekend before. Only two yellow cards shown at the match between Barcelona and Mallorca, but both went to an old villain Fernando Niño, who had to leave the field of play halfway through the second half. (05.10.01)