Another six red cards this weekend, which is starting to be par for the course. Two came within a minute or so of each other at the end of the first half in the game between Racing and Recreativo, the visitors' Iker Begoña taking the long walk after pushing a defender in the face and then local striker Bodipo following after appearing to head butt Pernía. Bodipo got a two match ban, although it seems a bit harsh as he was actually trying to get off the ground at the time, and the Argentine defender was standing over him and fell rather too quickly when contact was made.

The first player to be sent off this weekend though was Real Madrid's Michel Salgado, who picked up two yellow cards in the big game against Barcelona. He will miss the game against Sevilla next week, but so will three of the Andalucian back four after David was sent off and Javi Navarro and Njegus picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season against Deportivo. David's expulsion was rather comic, the left back making a diving save Notario would have been proud of....in the middle of the park. Although his effort cut out a dangerous pass which could have resulted in a goal, he was the last defender and had to take his leave. Needless to say an appeal was turned down.

The other two sendings off were both for second bookable offences, Desio of Alavés and Filipescu of Betis being the guilty parties. Desio's team mate Llorens will also be sitting out the next match after he picked up his tenth yellow card of the season, as did Mallorca's Lozano, and they will be joined on the sidelines by Coloccini (Atlético), Mendieta (Barcelona) and Gaspar (Valladolid), all of whom were given their fifth bookings this year. (23.04.03)