They say here in Spain that someone is having such bad luck, that if they were a circus manager the dwarves would grow on them and the clowns would suffer manic depression. Something like that happened to Real Madrid this weekend, when referee Carmona Méndez ruled out what looked like a perfectly good goal by Zidane for a positional offside of two other players, and then turned down two or three penalty appeals by David Beckham and others. Not that they would have necessarily come back from three goals down against Osasuna, but those who criticise Real Madrid for always having the referees on their side may want to take note.

Elsewhere, Fernando Torres will not want to hear the name González Vázquez again after he turned down a penalty appeal, pulled up an attack for a non-existent offside when the striker was free on goal and then sent him off for a flailing elbow. Murcia were also less than happy when Rubinos Pérez ruled out two goals against Real Sociedad with the scores level, the first for a dubious offside and the second as he decided to award a foul in their favour instead of waving play on. John Toshack's side ended up losing the match 2-0. (13.04.04)