Sergio Ramos set an unwanted La Liga record during Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

The central defender, famed for his hard-hitting style of play, was sent off in the closing stages of the game after collecting a second yellow card.

Having caught Borja Valle with an arm during an aerial duel, the referee brandished the red card, the 18th Ramos has seen in La Liga, reports Goal.com.

The 31-year-old subsequently equals Xavi Aguado, formerly of Real Zaragoza, and Pablo Alfaro, also a Zaragoza alum, as the player with the most dismissals in the division’s history.

Real otherwise enjoyed a smooth evening as they began their title defence, with Gareth Bale, Casemiro and Toni Kroos all on the scoresheet for Zinedine Zidane’s men.

Casemiro’s goal marked another milestone, the midfielder firing home after a move involving 44 passes - the most before a goal in La Liga since the 2006-07 season.