Fernández Borbolán didn't have the best of matches in the cup tie between Atlético Madrid and Espanyol, awarding a penalty to the locals even though the ball clearly hit Jordi Amat's arm outside of the area. He made up for it in part though by sending off Reyes for retaliating but allowing thereal perpetrator Dátolo to stay on the park. As it turned out the penalty was the only goal of the game, giving Atlético the edge for the return leg.

Two or three controversial decisions on the first weekend of the year, with Espanyol once again the victims after González González allowed Mata's last minute winner to stand, even though the player was clearly in an offside position. As we go to press the referees' committee has suspended the linesman involved for three weeks or so. Fernando Teixeira Vitienes turned down a last minute penalty appeal by Real Sociedad's Tamudo which would have given them a point at Zaragoza, and his brother José Antonio also turned down a penalty claim from Sporting for a hand ball by Málaga's Eliseu, but then awarded a second one for a similar offence by Mtiglia. Penalties are generally difficult to call though, and there were another two or three decisions this weekend which could have gone either way. (05.01.11)