Two players were sent off in the midweek cup matches, including Betis keeper Prats who brought down Vellisca in the penalty area near the end of the game with Zaragoza. It was a costly mistake, as up to that point the Andalucians were only trailing by one goal and had a chance of taking the tie on the away goal rule if they had scored one more. Worse luck though for the keeper, who had lost his place to Contreras this season and was hoping for a good performance to get back in the side. The other red card was for Osasuna's Rivero, who picked up a second booking in the tie against Valencia later on.

Three more red cards at the weekend, all in the same match between Real Murcia and Celta. One of our old villains Luccin was the first to get his marching orders, and he should have known better than to applaud the referee after he had been booked. That only earned him a second yellow card, and he was on his way. Manager Miguel Angel Lotina followed him though for insulting the referee, and Murcia's Jensen made it a crowded early bath after he got sent off with a straight red for the second time this season for a hard tackle late on. Luccin was let off by the disciplinary committee though, his second booking being cancelled enabling him to play at the weekend.

A mention though for Valladolid midfielder Jesús, who asked the referee not to send off Valencia midfielder Baraja after he threatened a head butt. Jesús said that he himself had put in a hard tackle and that was why he was upset. Baraja did get a fifth booking though which keeps him out of the next match. He will be joined by Gerard (Barcelona), Scaloni and Víctor (Deportivo), Nagore (Mallorca), Iván Helguera (Real Madrid) and Galletti (Zaragoza), and also Valladolid manager Fernando Vázquez, who was linked with a move to Manchester United again this week. He will have to keep his cool if he goes there. (20.01.04)