Another seven red cards this weekend, the most notable of which being that of David Beckham for the second time in the league this season. Becks got his marching orders for a hard tackle on Riki as the frustrations of the day got the better of him, and had a bit of a set to with Bernd Schuster as well as the Getafe coach said something to him on his way down the tunnel.

Beckham wasn't the only big name to be sent for an early bath this weekend though. Valencia's Albelda also saw red for what the referee described as grabbing an Espanyol player around the neck and hauling him to the ground, and Barcelona's Márquez was sent off for a second bookable offence after a tackle on Villarreal's Olympic diving champion José Marí.

Sevilla had two players red carded, Maresca for applauding the referee "a la Beckham / Oliveira / Rooney" after the official ordered a re-take of a Deportivo penalty , and Daniel Alves later on for a second bookable offence. Real Sociedad's Uranga only lasted four minutes before he was sent off for a heavy tackle on an opponent against Racing, and Betis full back Oscar López also had to go late on against Celta after picking up a second yellow card.

For Maresca and Uranga it was their second red card of the season, although Sevilla at least will appeal Maresca's sending off. In fact it could be a long session for the disciplinary committee on Wednesday as Valencia and Barça will probably be protesting the red cards for Albelda and Márquez, and others could as well. Six players also reached the five yellow card threshold, including Deco (Barcelona), Diego Rivas (Getafe - currently leading our villains table), Gerardo (Málaga), Arruabarrena (Villarreal), and two Zaragoza players, Gabi Milito and Toledo, and are expected to receive one match bans. Toledo already had two yellows and a red put on hold several weeks ago pending what is becoming a very slow appeal, and there is quite a bit of confusion as to which of his bookings count in the meantime and which don't. (06.12.05)