We’ve seen some strange things in Spain this season, including Arda Turan’s tantrum in the cup when he threw a boot at a linesman and missed, but we’ve never seen anyone pick up a clump of grass and throw it at another player – until this weekend that is! Barça’s Sergio Busquets was blatantly time-wasting at Celta, not only to run down the clock but also to get himself a fifth yellow card so he could sit out the midweek game against Almería and clear his slate for the rest of the season. However it was all too much for Orellana, and he launched the missile at Don Sergio, who was as surprised as anyone when it hit! Unfortunately for the Celta midfielder the officials spotted it, and it was a straight red card and off to an early bath for you, my son! That was one of four reds this weekend, Eibar’s Raúl Navas and Almería’s Dubarbier given their marching orders for second bookable offences in their respective matches, and the Getafe delegate sent to the stands for not controlling the ball boys, who were being less than diligent with their duties as their team tried to hold on to the lead against Deportivo.

All will miss the midweek round of games together with a record nineteen players who reached the five yellow card threshold. Verza (Almería), Banega (Sevilla) and Parejo (Valencia) all picked up their tenth bookings of the season, and Mauro Dos Santos (Almería), Laporte (Athletic), Juanfran (Atlético), Krohn-Dehli (Celta), Cavaleiro and Lucas Pérez (both Deportivo), Piovaccari (Eibar), Mosquera (Elche), Fuentes and Salva Sevilla (both Espanyol), Sergio Sánchez and Samu Castillejo (both Málaga), Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Ansotegi and Iñigo Martínez (both Real Soceidad), and of course Busquets, were all given their fifth. (07.04.15)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Gabi (Atlético) 15 2 3 20
Raúl Baena (Rayo) 15 1 3 19
Dubarbier (Almería) 13 2 3* 18
Orellana (Celta) 12 1 (1) 3* 17
Lopo (Deportivo) 13 1 3 17
Alvaro (Espanyol) 14 0 3 17
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 15 0 2 17
Alexis (Getafe) 9 1 (1) 5 16
Krychowiak (Sevilla) 11 1 (1) 3 16
Barral (Levante) 12 1 (1) 2 16
Mandzukic (Atlético) 14 0 2 16
Rodrigo (Valencia) 8 2 (1) 4 15
Raúl Navas (Eibar) 10 2 3* 15
Arbilla (Espanyol) 11 1 3 15
Mario Suárez (Atlético) 12 1 2 15
Weligton (Málaga) 12 1 2 15
Lillo (Eibar) 13 0 2 15
Laporte (Athletic) 10 1 3* 14
Raúl García (Atlético) 12 0 2 14
Damián Suárez (Elche) 12 0 2 14
Cañas (Espanyol) 12 0 2 14
Camacho (Málaga) 12 0 2 14
Ramos (Real Madrid) 13 0 1 14