One red card in the four midweek cup matches, with Getafe's Contra picking up a second booking late on against Burgos. And seven more were sent off in the league at the weekend, the second highest figure of the season after last week's record tally. Two teams lost two players each, with Almería being reduced to nine with only half an hour gone against Betis after Acasiete was shown a second yellow card and keeper Cobeño was sent off for giving away a penalty on Rivera. And Sevilla also had two men sent off against Valladolid, Fazio early in the second half for a second bookable offence and Luis Fabiano for a clumsy challenge late on.

Elsewhere Mallorca defender Nunes was sent off before the break against Athletic Bilbao, reportedly for insulting the referee (although his team mates defender him afterwards saying he was not capable of such a thing). Villarreal's Fuentes also got his marching orders after giving away a penalty on Getafe's Braulio (again a questionable decision), and Deportivo's B team full back Chapi was unlucky to be shown two yellow cards after coming on to make his debut for an injured colleague.

All the above will miss the last match before the Christmas break, and they will be joined by six other players who reached the five yellow card threshold, including Iraola (Athletic), Alvaro and Berson (Levante), Keita (Sevilla), Cani (Villarreal) and Gabi (Zaragoza). (18.12.07)