It only took 20 minutes this weekend for the first red card, Villarreal’s Víctor Ruíz getting his marching orders for bringing down Las Palmas forward Boateng as he advanced on goal in the Friday evening match. After that though there were only two more players sent off, Real Sociedad’s Granero after he picked up a second booking for diving in the area against Alavés, and Valencia’s Mangala, who morphed from goal-scoring hero to red-card villain in only 15 minutes after he pulled back Barcelona’s Luis Suárez in the area on the stroke of half time. It was interesting to note that referee Hernández Hernández didn’t apply the new rule that offences in the penalty area should only be punished by a yellow card, but as Mangala had already been booked he would have been on his way off in any case.

All will be joined on the sidelines in two weeks’ time by another ten players who picked up their fifth bookings of the season, including Carrasco (Atlético), Messi (Barcelona), Luisinho (Deportivo), Lemos (Las Palmas), Charles (Málaga), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Escudero (Sevilla) and Douglas and Jorge Meré (both Sporting). A bit convenient some people thought that certain of those who shall remain nameless picked up that fifth yellow card this weekend when their next games are against fairly easy opposition, but who are we to question the gods??? (20.03.17)

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Theo Hernández (Alavés) 13 2 (1) 4 20
Enzo Pérez (Valencia) 12 1 (1) 3 17
Hugo Mallo (Celta) 9 1 (1) 5 16
Uche Agbo (Granada) 10 1 (1) 4 16
Alexis (Alavés) 11 1 4 16
Raúl García (Athletic) 13 1 2 16
Amorebieta (Sporting) 14 0 2 16
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 11 1 3 15
Mangala (Valencia) 11 1 (1) 2* 15
Piccini (Betis) 8 2 (1) 3 14
Boateng (Las Palmas) 10 1 (1) 2 14
Iñigo Martínez (Real Soc) 11 1 2 14
Deyverson (Alavés) 12 0 2 14
Camacho (Málaga) 12 0 2 14
Illarramendi (Real Soc) 12 0 2 14
Feddal (Alavés) 9 2 2 13
Aduríz (Athletic) 10 1 2 13
Jaume Costa (Villarreal) 10 1 2 13
Pablo Hernández (Celta) 11 0 2 13
Escalante (Eibar) 11 0 2 13
Albentosa (Deportivo) 8 1 (1) 2 12
Gabi (Atlético) 10 0 2 12
Livaja (Las Palmas) 10 0 2 12
Roque (Las Palmas) 10 0 2 12
Mercado (Sevilla) 11 0 1 12