One word of advice to Rodrigo, if you want to help your team, don’t call the linesman a “cagón” (difficult to translate, but basically a scaredy-shit-in-the pants!). The Valencia forward did just that in the Bernabeu stadium as the Ches were fighting back against Real Madrid, and it cost him a straight red! Next time he’ll know better!

Two more players sent off as well in the penultimate weekend of the season, probably the most damaging of which being the red card for Sporting Gijón’s Nacho Cases. The Asturians were beating Getafe 0-1 at the time in their relegation battle, but after Cases picked up a second booking the hosts came back to save a vital point which could send Sporting down. Rayo Vallecano were unable to take advantage of playing against ten men though after Real Sociedad’s Granero was sent off for a high kick on Trashorras, a 2-1 defeat leaving Paco Jémez’s side down in next to bottom spot. Getafe, Sporting and Rayo fight it out next weekend to avoid the drop, but only one of the three can save themselves.

There were red cards as well for two coaches, Málaga’s Javi Gracia, and Valencia assistant David Caneda, both for protesting. All will have to sit out the last round of games together with six players who completed the five yellow card cycle, Enzo Pérez and Javi Fuego (both Valencia) and Alvaro Cejudo (Betis), who reached the ten booking threshold, and Adán (Betis), Cañas (Espanyol) and Vigaray (Getafe), who were all given their fifth . (10.05.16)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Diop (Espanyol) 16 2 (1) 4 23
Simao (Levante) 12 2 (1) 7 22
Rubén Pérez (Granada) 16 1 (1) 4 22
Piqué (Barcelona) 13 1 (1) 6 21
Cabral (Celta) 11 2 (1) 6 20
Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) 14 2 4 20
Mustafi (Valencia) 15 1 (1) 3 20
Pablo Hernández (Celta) 16 1 3 20
Recio (Málaga) 17 0 3 20
Nach Cases (Sporting) 12 2 (1) 4* 19
Aythami (Las Palmas) 14 2 3 19
Escalante (Eibar) 14 1 (1) 3 19
Deyverson (Levante) 13 2 3 18
Filipe Luis (Atlético) 13 1 (1) 3 18
Mascherano (Barcelona) 13 1 (1) 3 18
Dani García (Eibar) 15 0 3 18
Gabi (Atlético Madrid) 13 1 3 17
Hernán Pérez (Espanyol) 13 1 3 17
Orellana (Celta) 11 1 4 16
Arribas (Deportivo) 11 1 4 16
Iborra (Sevilla) 10 2 (1) 3 16
Success (Granada) 12 1 3 16
Raúl Baena (Rayo) 12 1 3 16
Javi Fuego (Valencia) 12 1 3* 16
Eric Bailly (Villarreal) 13 1 2 16
Illarramendi (Real Sociedad) 14 0 2 16