Some confusion over David Silva's on-off suspension this week, but in the end he was allowed to play against Real Madrid. The Valencia winger had his red card from last weekend downgraded to a yellow, but as he had already been booked earlier in the same match against Sevilla, the disciplinary committee considered that he should serve a one match suspension for thereby picking up two yellow cards in the same game. Valencia appealed however saying that there was no such ruling, and that both yellow cards should count towards the cycle of five, and not as a double booking. The appeal committee accepted their argument.

Only three red cards this weekend, including two in the match between Celta and Zaragoza. Zapater was the first two go for two yellow cards in the opening fifteen minutes, but Gustavo López followed him in the second half after a flinesman heard him insulting the official's mother! The other red card was for Recreativo's Beto, who was sent off for a hard tackle on a Racing defender. Elsewhere three players will have to sit out next weekend's games after reaching the five yellow card threshold, including Real Madrid's new "European footballer of the year" Cannavaro, plus Miguel Angel (Betis) and Poulsen (Sevilla). (28.11.06)