Oh dear, Sergio Ramos, yet another red card! This time it came after he was booked twice for similar actions on Athletic’s Aduríz and Raúl García (both for loose elbows in the jump), and with nineteen red cards in all, he is now the all-time record holder in La Liga, passing such prestigious “Villains” as Pablo Alfaro and Xavi Aguado. His team delegate Chendo was also sent to the stands for protesting, and Betis assistant coach Francisco Soto was also ordered off by Estrada Fernández for “using unauthorised electronic systems after having been previously warned”! That must be a first!?! Elsewhere Arambarri (Getafe) got his marching orders for a second bookable offence midway through the first half against Valencia (although his team still won), and Jordi Amat (Betis) was red carded as well for a second bookable offence late on at Las Palmas. All will miss next weekend’s games together with six other players who picked up their fifth bookings of the season, Jozabed (Celta), Fede Cartabia (Deportivo), David López (Espanyol), Djené (Getafe), and Dani Carvajal and Casemiro (both Real Madrid). (05.12.17)

PS David López and Djené were both let off their fifth yellow cards by the appeals committee, although Sergio Ramos’s appeal fell on deaf ears!

(* suspension pending disciplinary meeting decision)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Recio (Málaga) 8 1 2 11
Llorente (Real Sociedad) 7 1 2 10
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 3 1 5 9
Ramos (Real Madrid) 5 2 2* 9
Arambarri (Getafe) 7 1 1* 9
Jordi Amat (Betis) 6 1 1* 8
Víctor Ruíz (Villarreal) 6 1 1 8
Piqué (Barcelona) 7 0 1 8
Damián Suárez (Getafe) 7 0 1 8
Dani Parejo (Valencia) 7 0 1 8
Griezmann (Atlético) 3 1 (1) 2 7
Morales (Levante) 5 0 2 7
Illarramendi (Real Sociedad) 5 1 1 7
Juanfran (Deportivo) 5 1 1 7
Rodrigo Ely (Alavés) 6 0 1 7
Vigaray (Alavés) 6 0 1 7
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 6 0 1 7
Guilherme (Deportivo) 6 0 1 7
Dani García (Eibar) 6 0 1 7
Carvajal (Real Madrid) 6 0 1 7
Casemiro (Real Madrid) 6 0 1 7
Trigueros (Villarreal) 6 0 1 7