Referees were generous with their invitations to an early bath this week, handing out eight in all to equal the season's record. Mejuto González made himself unpopular with the Valencia contingent for sending off Mista for taking a free kick early when Karanka took out Kily González with a leg breaking tackle and didn't even get a booking.

Esquinas Torres sent off two players, Motta and Téllez, but by all accounts let Gabri off a second yellow card and a possible penalty much earlier on and should probably have sent off Motta for an earlier hard tackle. The two reds were unquestionable though, even if Ibon Begoña did make a meal of Motta's high handed tackle.

Muñiz Fernández was criticised by the Málaga players for leaving them with nine men, and especially for sending off keeper Contreras after he ran into Tamudo, and they also thought he should have given a penalty earlier on when Oscar appeared to foul Romero in the area. They couldn't really say too much though about Romero's sending off for a one-handed save which even Contreras himself would have been proud of. (19.03.03)