Seven red cards this weekend as the heavy calendar starts to mount up, four of which came in two games. An exciting finish in Valencia saw two players sent off in the last five minutes in mirror penalty incidents, Lacruz getting a second booking after giving away the first penalty and Ayala receiving a similar treatment at the other end a few minutes later (although his could be mistaken identity as Pellegrino committed the foul). Curiously, both penalties were saved.

Two men off as well in the game between Zaragoza and Sevilla. Generelo must consider himself unlucky though when he slid into an opponent on a waterlogged pitch near half time, earning himself a red card on his first start for the club. And double goalscorer Podestá turned double yellow card getter in the second half to even up the numbers. Elsewhere Nafti (Racing), Aranburu (Real Sociedad) and José Marí (Villarreal) were all given their marching orders in their respective games for second bookings, the former just before the break and the latter two in the second half.

No less than seven players will also be missing next weekend after picking up their fifth bookings of the season, including Luis Prieto (Athletic), Puyol (Barcelona), Lembo (Betis), Mauro Silva (Deportivo), Juanma (Racing), Alkiza (Real Sociedad) and Torres Gómez (Valladolid). Mauro Silva will be particularly missed by Deportivo in their clash with Real Madrid, as will Puyol for the Barcelona derby game with Espanyol. (08.12.03)