Five red cards in the cup as nerves frayed in the fifth round second legs. Two came in the tie between Deportivo and Sevilla, with Omar Bravo the first to go for a lunging tackle midway through the second half, and Palop following after giving away a penalty. Chevantón had to go in goal, but Pablo Alvarez fired the spot kick against the post!

Almería's Guilherme was sent off in the last minute against Mallorca for kicking an opponent, and Osasuna's Delporte also saw red against Athletic Bilbao for a last minute hard tackle. Sporting's Neru wasn't even on the park though when he was red carded, his insults from the bench reaching the hearing of the eagle-eared (wot?) referee! Being straight reds, all five missed the weekend games, and Bravo and Guilherme will have to serve out another match as their suspensions were for two games.

Another six reds at the weekend, starting with Deportivo's Aranzubia, who got his marching orders for giving away a late penalty at Barcelona on Saturday. This time around it was the Galicians who had to find a makeshift keeper! Later in the evening Numancia's Domingo Cisma was sent off against Sevilla for a second bookable offence, and the same happened the following day for Almería's Pellerano and Atlético's Banega. Osasuna's Juanfran was also sent for an early bath after picking up two yellow cards against Real Madrid, although he was later let off one them on appeal - see our "White Stick" section for more on that one!

Valencia's Manuel Fernandes was shown a red card as well for fouling Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martínez in the penalty area in the last minute, and as he had already picked up a fifth booking of the season earlier on, he will have to serve out a two match suspension. Also banned for accumulation of yellow cards are Javi Martínez himself, as well as his team mate Aitor Ocio, plus Juanito (Betis), Masoud and Puñal (Osasuna), Michel (Sporting) and Godín (Villarreal).

And finally Abbondanzieri's red card from last week was cancelled on appeal, and Betis assistant coach Mariano Suárez's red was downgraded to yellow. A busy week for the disciplinary committee! (20.01.09)