Frustration at a slight dip in his goal rate led to Cristiano Ronaldo's red card for punching an opponent at Cordoba according to European football writer Ben Lyttleton.
The Real Madrid forward still has well over a goal per game in La Liga this season, but has scored two goals in three league games - which would be more than acceptable for mere mortals - although his form looks worse when Copa del Rey ties are included.
"Part of the reason he was sent off against Cordoba was that he was simply frustrated. He wasn't getting into the game. He wasn't getting enough touches and he wasn't being particularly singled out for attention from the defenders," said Ben on Off The Ball's Monday Night European football review.
"He was lucky not to have been sent off earlier because from a free-kick he swung a punch at the defender marking him. That got missed."
But the fact that he was sent off while the ball was in play means his ban is likely to be much shorter.
While Ronaldo endures a slight dip in form, Ben believes it is a great opportunity for the game-winner against Cordoba, Gareth Bale, to step up and try and take the spotlight.
Ben also put the focus on Roberto Mancini's indifferent start to life at Inter Milan second time round.
"He's come into a club that's very different to the club that he left," explained Ben, who also touched on the ex-Manchester City boss' potential to move to Paris Saint-Germain.
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