Who let Luis Suárez talk to the press at the end of the cup semi-final? I mean, you just don’t do that! He was obviously upset after getting sent off for a second bookable offence in three minutes right at the end, especially given that he would therefore miss out on the cup final, and you know what Don Luis is like at the best of times! So stop him, tie him down or lure him away with a lump of red meat or something... But no, a reporter hungry for some juicy news got to him, and there you have it, a couple of comments that he might not have said if he had had time to cool down, and now the referees’ association are going to report him for bringing the game in to disrepute! When will they ever learn?

Suárez was only one of three players sent off though in an intense second leg tie against Atlético, Sergi Roberto and Carrasco also picking up two yellow cards apiece. Sergi Roberto will also therefore miss the cup final, and Carrasco will have to sit out the first cup tie of next season together with his team-mate Savic, who picked up his third booking of the tournament. Incidentally Suárez was also reported by referee Gil Manzano for failing to leave the pitch after his red card, and then ignoring the fourth referee’s instructions to leave the entrance to the players’ tunnel, and he was given an extra game ban which will also have to be served out in the cup next season.

A relatively quiet weekend after that, with only two red cards, including one for Sporting reserve goalkeeper Diego Mariño for protesting from the bench. Villarreal’s Roberto Soriano was also sent off for taking the legs out from under Málaga’s Camacho late on in their Sunday mid-day match. Both will have to sit out next weekend’s fixtures together with nine players who completed the five yellow card cycle, Busquets (Barcelona), Pezzella and Dani Ceballos (both Betis), Guidetti (Celta), Dani García (Eibar), Lombán (Granada), Rubén Pérez (Leganés), Iborra (Sevilla) and Carmona (Sporting). (14.02.17)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Theo Hernández (Alavés) 10 2 (1) 3 16
Amorebieta (Sporting) 13 0 2 15
Hugo Mallo (Celta) 7 1 (1) 5 14
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 10 1 3* 14
Enzo Pérez (Valencia) 9 1 (1) 2 13
Iñigo Martínez (Real Soc) 10 1 2 13
Uche Agbo (Granada) 8 1 (1) 3 13
Raúl García (Athletic) 11 1 1 13
Aduríz (Athletic) 9 1 2 12
Pablo Hernández (Celta) 10 0 2 12
Boateng (Las Palmas) 7 1 (1) 2 11
Petros (Betis) 8 1 2 11
Gabi (Atlético) 9 0 2 11
R. Soriano (Villarreal) 6 1 (1) 2* 10
Jaume Costa (Villarreal) 7 1 2 10
Neymar (Barcelona) 8 0 2 10
Escalante (Eibar) 8 0 2 10
Alexis (Alavés) 9 0 1 10
Deyverson (Alavés) 9 0 1 10
Livaja (Las Palmas) 9 0 1 10
Roque (Las Palmas) 9 0 1 10
Camacho (Málaga) 9 0 1 10
Mercado (Sevilla) 9 0 1 10