A quieter round of midweek cup games after all the excitement a week or so ago, and even the volatile derby between Espanyol and Barcelona didn’t produce any red cards (although Dani Alves, Caicedo and Alvaro were close to being sent off!). The only red card in the eight games in fact was for Cádiz assistant coach Santa Elena, who was sent to the stands for protesting, and was given a three match ban for repeat offences. Barcelona’s opponents in the league (and as it happens the next round of the cup) Athletic Bilbao did find themselves a man short early on though when keeper Iraizoz was sent off for bringing down Luis Suárez in only the third minute of their match in the Nou Camp, and there were two other red cards in the game between local rivals Sevilla and Málaga, Iborra and then Boka both getting their marching orders after picking up two bookings in quick succession near the end of the game. They will sit out next weekend’s games together with five players who completed the five yellow card cycle, Piqué (Barcelona), Hernán Pérez (Espanyol), Biraghi (Granada), Jefferson Lerma (Levante) and Víctor Ruíz (Villarreal). (19.01.16)

PS Lerma was let off his yellow card on appeal, and he will be available to play next weekend.

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Diop (Espanyol) 9 2 (1) 3 15
Iborra (Sevilla) 9 2 (1) 3* 15
Escalante (Eibar) 10 1 (1) 3 15
Simao (Levante) 7 1 (1) 5 14
Eric Bailly (Villarreal) 11 1 2 14
Piqué (Barcelona) 6 1 (1) 5* 13
Rubén Pérez (Granada) 8 1 (1) 2 12
Luisinho (Deportivo) 8 2 2 12
Pablo Hernández (Celta) 9 1 2 12
Tito (Rayo Vallecano) 6 2 (1) 2 11
Mascherano (Barcelona) 7 1 (1) 2 11
Gabi (Atlético Madrid) 8 1 2 11
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 8 1 2 11
Biraghi (Granada) 8 1 2* 11
Aythami (Las Palmas) 8 1 2 11
Deyverson (Levante) 8 1 2 11
Javi Fuego (Valencia) 8 1 2 11
Recio (Málaga) 10 0 1 11
Ebert (Rayo Vallecano) 4 1 (1) 4 10
Tissone (Málaga) 6 2 2 10
Hernán Pérez (Espanyol) 7 1 2* 10
Raúl Baena (Rayo) 7 1 2 10
Bernardo (Sporting) 7 1 2 10
Zé Castro (Rayo) 8 1 1 10
Illarramendi (Real Sociedad) 9 0 1 10