The midweek round of league games was dominated by one incident, Pepe's five minutes of madness in Real Madrid's derby game against Getafe. The red mist descended after the defender gave away a late penalty on Casquero, fans watching incredulously as he viciously kicked the player twice as he was laying on the ground. By then the cables were well and truly crossed, and in the ensuing fracas he punched Albín in the face and seriously insulted the referee and his officials. Pepe was inconsolable afterwards having realized what he had done, but despite his apologies to everyone he was given one of the biggest bans in the history of Spanish football, ten games (four each for the attacks on Casquero and Albín, and one each for the red card and the insults). Madrid will probably appeal to try and get the ban reduced, but we don't expect to see him playing for the rest of the season.

There were however another ten red cards in all, including no less than six in the match between Osasuna and Málaga. Before half time Clos Gómez had sent off Puñal and Gámez for second bookable offences, and Josetxo followed for the same reason midway through the second half. Osasuna coach Camacho and his medical assistant were sent to the stands for protesting, and their side ended with eight men after Vadocz was also shown a red card.

Elsewhere Athletic's Aitor Ocio was sent off against Numancia after picking up two yellow cards early on, but numbers were evened up later in the second half when Boris did likewise. Sporting's Barral can consider himself unlucky that he was shown a straight red when he caught Espanyol's Pareja trying to strike a shot on the turn, and Recreativo's physical trainer was also red carded. Only three other players hit the five yellow card threshold though, Javi Martínez (Athletic) and Luccin (Racing) with ten bookings, and Raúl Cámara (Sporting) with five. (25.04.09)