Four more red cards in the opening week of the new year, limited strangely enough to just two matches. The first two came in Saturday's game between Villarreal and Sevilla, with the home side's veteran midfielder Guillermo Amor having the honour to be the first to see red in 2002 after picking up a second booking shortly before half time. Sevilla's Moisés followed him right at the end, also with a second yellow for protesting. Having just scored the winning goal he should have known better and kept his mouth shut. Two more sent off in the table topping clash between Betis and Valencia, which followed a similar pattern. The home side's Luis Fernández was given a second caution two minutes before the break, and Valencia's Salva got his marching orders later in the second half with his team already in front. Salva's second yellow was also self inflicted, reaching up to block the ball openly with his hand with no goal scoring opportunity in sight. A senseless rush of blood which will mean he misses next week's vital game at Real Madrid.

According to our records, only three players hit the five card threshold this weekend, a small figure compared to other weeks. These include Tamudo (Espanyol), Gancedo (Osasuna) and Ibon Begoña (Alavés), leaving the disciplinary committee with relatively little work on their second day back. A few days ago they were full of Christmas spirit (probably Carlos III brandy) and decided not to take the Gato Romero incident further (see villains 18). His cause was helped by Ayala, who told them that he considered that the elbow he received in the face was accidental. Watch out for fireworks though when the two sides meet again in four months time. Ayala has a long memory. (07.01.02)