Eight red cards this weekend, including one on Saturday evening for Athletic Bilbao's Yeste for an impulsive push on Real Madrid keeper Casillas as tempers flared in the San Mamés stadium close to half time. Ión Vélez was also red-carded for protesting whilst on the bench, as was assistant coach Luci Martín. Earlier in the evening Valencia's Marchena was sent off for the third time this season, this time for a second bookable offence, and he made matters worse by making the "Biggles" sign at the officials ("you need binoculars"), earning himself another yellow card. Being his fifth this season, that added up to a two match ban!

Four more reds on Sunday, direct for Espanyol's Moisés Hurtado and Málaga's Calleja, and for second cautions for Getafe's Mario and Villarreal's Javi Venta. They will be joined in the stands next weekend by eight players who reached the five yellow card threshold, including Paulo Assunçao (Atlético) and Weligton (Málaga) with ten bookings, and Negredo (Almería), Gurpegui (Athletic), Miguel Angel (Málaga), Dimas (Numancia), Delporte (Osasuna) and Barber (Recreativo) with five. Cynics may say that Negredo's fifth against Barcelona was forced, as he will be prohibited from playing the next game against his old club Real Madrid under the terms of the transfer contract. (17.03.09)