Only two red cards for outfield players in this weekend’s fixtures, both coming in the city derby between Espanyol and Barcelona when first Jordi Alba and then Héctor Moreno were given two bookings in succession for arguing with referee Mateu Lahoz. Mateu was caught on film explaining to Messi that he didn’t like people protesting his decisions. That was pretty clear then! Elsewhere there were red cards for a member of each of the technical staffs of Getafe and Levante in their Saturday night game. Obviously Alvarez Izquierdo doesn’t like to be argued with either!

Elsewhere Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos “conveniently” picked up their tenth bookings of the season in the match at Celta, meaning they will have to sit out the midweek game against Almería. A more cynical mind might suggest that their acts were deliberate, given that they will then have the slate wiped clean for the key fixtures against Sevilla and Valencia, but then who are we to suggest that! Another six players will also miss the midweek fixtures after being shown their fifth yellow cards of the season, including Almería’s own Wellington Silva and Thievy (also convenient!), as well as Etxeita (Athletic), Florin (Córdoba), Toño (Levante) and Jonathan Dos Santos (Villarreal). (28.04.15)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Gabi (Atlético) 17 2 4 23
Dubarbier (Almería) 14 2 4 20
Orellana (Celta) 14 1 (1) 3 19
Raúl Baena (Rayo) 15 1 3 19
Alvaro (Espanyol) 16 0 3 19
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 16 0 3 19
Alexis (Getafe) 10 1 (1) 5 18
Lopo (Deportivo) 14 1 3 18
Weligton (Málaga) 14 1 3 18
Krychowiak (Sevilla) 12 1 (1) 3 17
Arbilla (Espanyol) 12 1 3 16
Tito (Rayo Vallecano) 12 1 3 16
Barral (Levante) 12 1 (1) 2 16
Mandzukic (Atlético) 14 0 2 16
Lillo (Eibar) 14 0 2 16
Ramos (Real Madrid) 14 0 2* 16
Rodrigo (Valencia) 8 2 (1) 4 15
Raúl Navas (Eibar) 10 2 3 15
Laporte (Athletic) 11 1 3 15
Mario Suárez (Atlético) 12 1 2 15
Raúl García (Atlético) 13 0 2 15
Cañas (Espanyol) 13 0 2 15
Fran Rico (Granada) 13 0 2 15
Dani Parejo (Valencia) 13 0 2 15