Come on boys, where's that Christmas spirit? There was not a lot of it about this weekend where once again seven players were sent out of Santa's Grotto for ungentlemanly conduct. It all started at Mallorca, where Barcelona's Motta decided the best way to keep his boss Louis Van Gaal in a job would be to tip the odds in his favour. So midway through the first half a quiet insult in Novo's ear and "bam", a blow in the face, fall to the ground as if poleaxed and let the referee do the rest. Novo was followed soon afterwards by Eto'o, who needs no provocation when he gets his wires crossed. His kick on Motta right under the referee's nose was professional suicide, and having already served a five match sentence for a similar incident at the end of last season he could be on for a lengthy ban .

By coincidence the other Barcelona based side Espanyol also ended up playing against nine men after Valladolid had two players sent off. Marcos was the first to go midway through the first half for a foul on Tamudo, and Peña (the man who took out Valerón earlier in the season) followed on the hour mark for a second bookable offence, his second red card this year.

Two unlikely names on these pages this week, with Denilson and Kovacevic both getting their marching orders, the former for a petulant kick at Izquierdo off the ball, and the latter for a second yellow card. Finally Sevilla's Fredi picked up two bookings in the first half of their game at Rayo, the second time in a row he has seen red in Vallecas.

The following players will be suspended for the next match after picking up five yellow cards: Abelardo (Alavés), Marcos Assunçao (Betis), César (Deportivo), Cruchaga (Osasuna), Marcos Vales (Sevilla), Torres Gómez and Aganzo (Valladolid). (24.12.02)