The week began with one of old favourites Oscar Téllez featuring in what can only be described as a boxing match (or maybe Turkish wrestling?) in the UEFA cup tie between Alavés and Besiktas. The veteran defender and two times winner of our villains prize was sent off together with Ilhan Manzis after the two threw punches at each other near the end of the game. Téllez has been in a bad mood recently, criticising everybody in sight, and has been left out of the side after arguing with his manager. Could it be the male menopause?

Three red cards at the weekend, two of them direct. One was for Recreativo's unfortunate keeper César, who was sent off, rather harshly we felt, for handling outside of the area. Strictly speaking the referee was correct, but it was only inches over the line and was in a moment of intense active play. Maybe though the keeper was happy to get off the field having already let in two goals? The other straight red was for an elbowing incident by Villarreal's Ballesteros on Sevilla's Víctor Salas. Again it was a hard decision, and Víctor made it worse by feigning he had been hit in the neck when cameras showed the blow was to the body. The third man to leave the field early was Rayo's Azkoitia, who picked up a second booking in the last minute of the game against Athletic.

Several players reached the five yellow card suspension barrier this week, including such illustrious (and unlikely) names as Sevilla's Reyes and Atlético's José Mari. Another one was Barcelona's Fernando Navarro, who will miss out on the "derby" game against Real Madrid next weekend. Pablo (Alavés), Lozano (Mallorca) and Juanma (Racing) complete the list of players who will (appeals permitting) be missing from their sides next weekend. (19.11.02)