Referees seem to have it in for coaches this season! Of the 18 red cards dished out in the first six weeks, no less than four have been for managers, with a fifth for a member of the coaching staff. Ferrando, Schuster and now Alcaraz and Aguirre have all fallen foul of the men in black, and have been sent up to the stands as a result. Whether shouting and waving one's arms about is worthy of a sending off is debateable, and in the case of insults, as Aguirre said to the referee, "it's your word against mine". Aguirre's words were though, if Rubinos Pérez's report is to be believed, rather offensive.

Once again not much controversy though, with decisions in and out of the penalty area catching the attention (as well as an injury to Moreno Delgado, who handed over his whistle to the fourth official for the last few minutes). Raúl and Kovacevic both thought they should have had penalties when Teixeira Vitienes and Puentes Leira turned down their claims early in their respective matches, and Espanyol manager Miguel Angel Lotina was unhappy at Turienzo Alvarez for waving away his side's appeals for a spot kick and then ruling out a Tamudo strike at the other end, supposedly for controlling the ball with his arm. (04.10.04)