Five red cards for the third weekend in a row, the most controversial of which was for Barcelona's Motta, the third time he has been sent off this season. For once though the Brazilian midfielder was not to blame, referee Tristante Oliva getting his knickers in a twist and giving him two yellow cards when the first should have been for Cocu and the second a few minutes later for Oleguer. Barça will appeal against both cards and Motta is expected to available to play at the weekend.

Mallorca keeper Leo Franco was sent off for handling outside of the area in order to stop Fernando Torres from passing him midway through the first half, his second red card of the season, and there were early baths too for Sevilla's Antoñito and Valladolid's Ricchetti for second bookable offences, the former in the first half of the derby match at Betis and the latter in the second half against Zaragoza. Real Sociedad's assistant trainer Olaizola was also shown a red card for swearing at the referee at the end of their game against Albacete.

Real Madrid will be missing defenders Michel Salgado and Pavón for their next league match after both reached the yellow card suspension threshold, Salgado getting his tenth booking of the season and Pavón his fifth. Lembo (Betis) also got his tenth yellow card, and Saviola (Barcelona) and David Cortés (Mallorca) picked up their fifth, and all three will be banned for one match as well. (02.03.04)

P.S. As expected, Motta was let off his two bookings, the disciplinary committee cancelling the first immediately and the appeal committee doing the same with the second later in the week. (05.03.04)