The feeling remains that, for various reasons, Xavi Hernández has not been able to count on all his players. Injuries have accompanied without limits the FC Barcelona, but it is not the only thing that ‘deprives’ the Egarense coach of having the entire dressing room available. In addition to absences due to injury or physical problems, add the compulsory absences per card cycle.
Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba were the last to be forced to serve a sanction in LaLiga and Gavi will miss the Europa League match against Galatasaray, for the first leg of the round of 16. Now, Nico Gonzalez He will join the -extensive- list of players who have had to stay in the stands due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Against Elche, the culé midfielder came on in the second half to replace a Frenkie de Jong without gasoline (or aim). The Galician is turning into a fixed revulsive for Xavi Hernández in the second parts for help the team to have control from midfield. Now, the man from Egar will not be able to count on him during Osasuna’s visit to the Camp Nou.
He saw his fifth yellow card against the Elche team. In Hernández Hernández’s report, the referee explained that he saw the card for “to make a reckless tackle on an opponent in the dispute for the ball” in an action with Guido Carrillo, Elche striker.
Against Osasuna, Nico had great opportunities to start. Barça will receive the ‘rojillos’ three days after facing Galatasaray and Xavi is expected to rotate in his ‘gala’ line-up thinking about the second leg of the round of 16 (the following Thursday, at 6:45 p.m., in Spain) and the Clásico against Real Madrid on Sunday 20 (9:00 p.m.).
Ronald Araújo, warned
With Nico González the alarms do not end at Barça. Ronald Araújo has also turned them on after seeing his fourth yellow card in this weekend’s game against Elche. He was ‘punished’ for the same reason as his partner and must be very careful not to see the fifth card against Osasuna, pbecause, if so, he will miss the decisive match against Real Madrid.