Two rounds of cup matches between the last league games of 2016 and the first of 2017, with the fourth round second leg ties taking place in the run up to Christmas. Not much festive spirit by referee Estrada Fernández though as he gave Guijuelo’s Raúl Ruíz a harsh second yellow card for protesting only thirty minutes in to their match at Atlético Madrid. Atleti were already 9-0 up on aggregate at the time, but Simeone (who actually complained to the referee about the red card) ordered his team to sit back in the second half and not do any more damage to the second division B side! One other sending off as well, Nàstic’s Kakbadze getting his marching orders after giving away a penalty against Alavés with an hour still to go. There too the first division team were already cruising.

The fifth round first legs kicked off soon after the New Year, with two red cards for Athletic’s Raúl García and Iturraspe in a physical match against Barcelona, both for second yellows for fouls on Neymar. They will miss next week’s return leg, as will Eibar’s Christian Rivera, who picked up his third booking in the competition in the match against neighbours Osasuna. Deportivo’s goalkeeping coach Manu Sotelo will also be suspended for two cup games after he insulted referee Hernández Hernández at the end of the tie against Alavés. “Who are you?”, asked Hernández. “What does it matter to you?” replied Sotelo. Now he knows why!

So to the weekend, and there were red cards for Deportivo’s Juanfran and for Villarreal’s Jaume Costa, both for second bookable offences late in the games against Espanyol and Barcelona. Five other players will join them on the sidelines next weekend after they picked up their fifth cautions of the season, including Bruno and Petros (both Betis), Bustinza (Leganés), Mangala (Valencia) and Sansone (Villarreal). (10.01.17)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Hugo Mallo (Celta) 6 1 (1) 5 13
Amorebieta (Sporting) 10 0 2 12
Enzo Pérez (Valencia) 7 1 (1) 2 11
Raúl García (Athletic) 9 1 1* 11
Petros (Betis) 7 1 2* 10
Pablo Hernández (Celta) 9 0 1 10
Sergi Gómez (Celta) 5 2 2 9
Theo Hernández (Alavés) 5 1 (1) 2 9
Aduríz (Athletic) 7 1 1 9
Koke (Atlético Madrid) 7 1 1 9
Deyverson (Alavés) 8 0 1 9
Livaja (Las Palmas) 8 0 1 9
Boateng (Las Palmas) 5 1 (1) 1 8
Roncaglia (Celta) 6 1 1 8
Jaume Costa (Villarreal) 6 1 1* 8
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 7 0 1 8
Camacho (Málaga) 7 0 1 8
Carvajal (Real Madrid) 7 0 1 8
Iñigo Martínez (Real Soc) 7 0 1 8
Mercado (Sevilla) 7 0 1 8
Vázquez (Sevilla) 7 0 1 8