Only four red cards this weekend, two of them coming in the game between Valencia and Barcelona. Carew was the first to go in the first half after insulting the referee when he awarded a penalty to Barcelona, and Carboni followed him in the second half after being red-carded for giving away another penalty. Málaga's Contreras was sent off for the second time this season when he gave away a penalty against Sevilla, and Recreativo's Loren had to go after picking up a second booking in the rehearsal of the cup final against Mallorca.

Seven players will miss the last match of the season after completing the cycle of yellow cards, including three from Málaga, Darío Silva and Sandro (10 yellows) and Musampa (5 yellows). The others are Rayo's Corino and Mauro, Recreativo's Alex and Sevilla's Alfaro, all with five yellows. Finally Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta has announced that he will be withdrawing the club's appeal to the law courts over the two match ground closure, and will be serving out the ban. The move will not take place until after this weekend though, which means they will play against Celta in the Nou Camp and then switch the first two games next season to a neutral ground, probably at Lleida. (17.06.03)