Pablo Pérez hasn’t had many starts since joining Málaga in the winter, so it’s logical that he takes full advantage when he gets one. And so it was that he scored his side’s only goal, and then picked up his side’s only red card as well for a second bookable offence with ten minutes or so to go in the game against Espanyol! Curiously that was the only sending off for a player in the midweek round of games, the only other red card for Almería’s team delegate, who was sent to the stands for asking referee José Antonio Teixeira Vitienes at half time if he was stupid, or what? Clearly he wasn’t! As it happens Teixeira’s brother Fernando also showed a red card to another Almería delegate a couple of months ago in a similar incident. Maybe they could do with a course in anger management???

Nine players will miss the weekend games though after completing the five yellow card cycle, Verza (Almería) and Jaume Costa (Villarreal), who picked up their tenth bookings of the season, and Ander Herrera (Athletic), Cedrick (Betis), Valera and Michel (Getafe), Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad), Mitrovic (Valladolid) and Jokic (Villarreal), who all received their fifth. (28.03.14)

PS Jaume Costa’s appeal against his booking was upheld, and he will be free to play at the weekend. That’s good news for Marcelino, as otherwise both of his left backs would have been suspended.

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 17 3 4 24
Botía (Elche) 16 0 3 19
Duda (Málaga) 8 2 (2) 6 18
Gálvez (Rayo Vallecano) 14 1 3 18
Saúl (Rayo Vallecano) 14 1 3 18
Jesús Gámez (Málaga) 11 1 4 17
Iturra (Granada) 12 2 3 17
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 13 1 (1) 3 17
Sergio Sánchez (Málaga) 12 1 3 16
Diogo Figueiras (Sevilla) 8 1 (1) 5 15
Filipe Luis (Atlético) 8 2 (1) 4 15
Cala (Sevilla) 9 2 (1) 3 15
Damián Suárez (Elche) 10 2 3 15
Alexis (Getafe) 13 0 2 15
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 9 1 4 14
Dubarbier (Almería) 11 1 2 14
Amaya (Betis) 11 1 2 14
Nono (Betis) 11 1 2 14
Borja (Getafe) 11 1 2 14
Silva (Osasuna) 11 1 2 14
Iborra (Sevilla) 11 1 2 14