Some confusion in the midweek cup games, with Real Madrid mistakenly thinking that Sergio Ramos was banned following his week-end red card. This should normally have been the case, but somebody forgot to tell Pellegrini that the disciplinary committee had put back the ban to the next weekend as they didn't have time to bring it in to force! Ramos was left out of the squad against Alcorcón, and the rest is history. The committee also cancelled David Prieto's second yellow card, and Riki's second booking was put on hold by the appeal committee. Both will be available for the week eleven games.

The cup itself saw eight red cards, although only three were for first division players, Alexis (Valencia), Morris (Racing) and Pellerano (Almería) all getting their marching orders for second bookable offences.

On to the weekend, where another five players were sent off. Two of those were from Osasuna, Pandiani picking up a second booking in the second half against Valencia, and Miguel Flaño being shown a straight red in injury time for kicking Banega. And two players were sent off in the hot-tempered game between Málaga and Zaragoza, Paredes for a second booking on the hour mark and Weligton for punching Goni a minute later. Atlético's Cléber Santana was also red-carded for insulting the referee at the end of the game against Deportivo, after the official awarded a controversial injury time penalty to the home side.

Elsewhere Puñal (Osasuna) and Luna (Tenerife) both picked up their fifth bookings of the season, but whereas the former will have to sit out a one-match ban, the latter was let off the yellow card by the appeals committee. (24.11.09)