Villains

Only three red cards on the first weekend of the new year. Two of those came in the same match, Almería's Kalu Uche getting sent off late on for using what the referee considered to be an elbow to fend off Betis midfielder Mehmet Aurelio, and Sergio García was also shown a straight red in injury time for a heavy tackle on Ortíz as he advanced on goal. This was García's third red card of the season, and he is now second in our table behind Josemi, who was also sent for an early bath in the Nou Camp after picking up a second booking late on.

In fact referee Velasco Carballo made a bit of a mess of Gregorio Manzano's plans for the home game against Real Madrid, showing a fifth yellow card of the season to Varela and Aduríz, as well as to Barça's Márquez. All will miss next weekend's matches, as will Carlos García (Almería), Balenziaga (Athletic), Heitinga, Perea and Paulo Assunçao (all Atlético), Licht and Polanski (Getafe), Duscher (Sevilla) and Marcos Senna (Villarreal). Quite a haul for the opening day of 2009! (05.01.09)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Josemi (Mallorca) 9 2 (1) 3* 15
Sergio García (Betis) 5 3 (1) 3* 12
Marcelo (Real Madrid) 7 1 (1) 2 11
Navarro (Mallorca) 8 1 2 11
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) 5 2 (1) 2 10
Orbaiz (Athletic) 7 1 2 10
Albelda (Valencia) 9 0 1 10
Marchena (Valencia) 4 2 (1) 2 9
Perea (Atlético) 5 1 (1) 2* 9
Ramos (Real Madrid) 5 1 (1) 2 9
Gerard (Sporting) 5 1 (1) 2 9
Luccin (Racing) 7 1 1 9
Arzu (Betis) 6 1 1 8
Azpilicueta (Osasuna) 6 1 1 8
Lacen (Racing) 6 1 1 8
Bouzón (Recreativo) 6 1 1 8
Vázquez (Recreativo) 6 1 1 8