A bit of Christmas spirit from the appeals committee, who let Fuentes off his red card from last week, and reduced a two match ban for Nunes down to one. The Mallorca defender did admit that he said "...the whore who gave birth to you...", but it was in Portuguese, twenty yards away from the referee and "was not directed at him". He should be more careful in the future - Spanish referees have hearing which would put Superman to shame!

No disciplinary problems in the three remaining cup games midweek, but once again there were seven red cards at the weekend. Two of those were for Atlético Madrid players in their top of the table clash against Espanyol, Agüero getting himself sent off for retaliating after a hard tackle by Torrejón, and Pernía following him down the tunnel after the break for a second bookable offence. Agüero was let off one red card earlier in the season, but this time he will have to sit out the cup match at the start of the new year.

Aitor Ocio and Crusat were both sent off for the second time this season as well, the Bilbao defender and the Almería midfielder both being shown a second yellow card later on in their respective matches. Racing defender Garay was also sent for an early bath after picking up a second booking against Sevilla, and Murcia's Iván Alonso was shown a red card without even getting on the park after fighting with a spectator who was insulting him whilst on the subs' bench!

A red card as well for Valencia's under pressure coach Ronald Koeman, who let out his frustrations on the referee with his side losing at Zaragoza. He would have been calmer later on though as the Chés fought back to equalise. Subject to appeal all will miss the opening matches of the new year, together with five players who picked up their fifth bookings of the season, Alves (Sevilla), Ilic (Betis), De la Red (Getafe), Ochoa (Murcia) and Josetxo (Osasuna). (26.12.07)

PS. Daniel Alves's fifth yellow card was revoked on appeal, meaning the full back will be able to play in next weekend's derby game against Betis. Pernía had one of his two yellow cards overturned as well, although he will still miss Atlético's next match as the other booking takes him to ten, thereby making him the first player to complete the second cycle of five yellow cards.