Five red cards this weekend, the second highest number of the season even though it was not a particularly aggressive round of games. Tenerife keeper Sergio Aragoneses was shown a direct red for bringing down Rayo's Bolic outside the area, and Coloccini picked up two yellow cards in a minute near the end of the game with Betis for hard tackles as the frustration of losing proved too much. Villarreal's Víctor also got two quick yellows although neither were really merited, especially a second for handling the ball. Las Palmas and Spanish under-21 full back Angel also got a second yellow for handling the ball in the last minute of the game against Valladolid, and Mallorca physical trainer Sanromán was sent off for suggesting a rather unpleasant act which he would apparently like to perform with the referee's mother.

A new leader in a table this week, with Celta's Luccin due to receive his fifth one-match ban of the season after reaching another yellow card threshold. His last three games have ended with suspensions for one reason or another, and although he is proving to be a good signing when he actually plays, his disciplinary record is such that Víctor Fernández is turning to others for his first choice line up. Other than the above, another six players will miss next the next round of games through suspension. Llorens picked up his tenth yellow card on the day he officially became an Alavés player, his loan contract stipulating that he would be transferred once he played 25 games with the club. Others reaching the five card limit were Engonga (Mallorca), Pablo Lago (Las Palmas), Josemi (Málaga), Fuertes (Tenerife) and Ballesteros (Villarreal), and some reports say Cañas of Betis as well. (18.02.02)