Six red cards this weekend, the joint highest total of the season. Three were for Albacete though, where Pacheco picked up two yellow cards late in the first half and Gaspar followed him after the restart. Manager José González was so upset at the referee that he marched on to the pitch and wouldn't leave, and he too was shown a red card. It took several members of his coaching staff to finally drag him away, and even then he stood in the stands behind the dugout and shouted insults at the officials. It could cost him a hefty ban.

Straight red cards for Athletic Bilbao keeper Aranzubia, who came out of his area to send Kovacevic crashing down as he advanced on goal (although there was a hint of offside), and for Atlético Madrid left back Antonio López, who spoilt a good performance with a tackle from behind on an opponent late in the game against Numancia. And Villarreal's Arruabarrena was also given his marching orders after picking up a second booking twenty minutes from the end against Deportivo.

No less than eight players will join them in the stands next weekend after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season, including both Espanyol centre backs Lopo and Pochettino, plus Del Horno (Athletic), Rivas (Getafe), Poli (Mallorca), Puñal (Osasuna), Nafti (Racing) and old favourite Quique Alvarez of Villarreal.

Finally good news for Mallorca's Fernando Correa. His one year ban for a doping offence has been reduced to nine months, and he will be free to play for Héctor Cúper's side at the start of the new year. And talking of that, one thing we forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago was the two month suspension for Marcos Senna of Villarreal after a drugs test tested positive for a medication he was apparently taking for a cold. Meanwhile Gurpegui's two year suspended ban will soon be going to court, and the player hopes that his lawyers will be able to prove that he generates Nandrolone naturally and that his ban will therefore be lifted. (23.11.04)