Yellow Alert in Vigo: Barcelona Faces Risk of Suspensions for Key Players and Coach

The FC Barcelona heads to Balaídos this Saturday to face Celta de Vigo (18:30 CET) in a crucial match for their standings, but there’s also a risk of losing players—or even the coach—for the next clash against Getafe on Saturday, the 24th, at Montjuïc (16:15 CET).

Four players—Lewandowski, Romeu, Cancelo, and Araujo—are on four yellow cards, one away from a one-match suspension. Additionally, coach Xavi Hernández also has accumulated four yellow cards, and a fifth would lead to a one-match ban imposed by the Competition Committee.

Lewandowski received yellow cards against Villarreal, Osasuna, Alavés, and Villarreal (second leg); Romeu against Mallorca, Athletic, Rayo Vallecano, and Villarreal; Joao Cancelo in matches against Sevilla, Granada, Atlético, and Valencia; and Araujo against Atlético, Girona, Almería, and Villarreal.

Xavi, on the other hand, was cautioned against Atlético, Las Palmas, Villarreal, and Granada. The Barcelona coach has seen these four yellow cards within a two-and-a-half-month period. If he receives a fifth, he will miss the third match due to suspension. He was expelled in the first round against Getafe for protesting after being warned, preventing him from being on the bench against Cádiz and Villarreal.

Xavi’s passionate involvement during matches, vocal against injustices, has put him in the spotlight for referees. Since taking over as Barcelona’s coach, he has received 20 yellow cards and 1 red card (in all competitions).

The FC Barcelona’s bench has become a target for referees, who seize any opportunity to penalize the Barcelona coach and his assistants. In the first season (November 2021-2022), the bench received 8 yellow cards and 1 red card (Òscar Hernández); in the second season (2022-23), they were shown 12 yellow cards and 1 red card (Òscar Hernández); and in the third season (2023-February 2024), they have already accumulated 8 yellow cards and 5 red cards (Xavi, De la Fuente -2-, Sergio Alegre, and Òscar Hernández). In Xavi’s era, there are 28 yellow cards and 7 red cards.

Raphinha (two matches), Fermín, Gavi, De Jong, and Vitor Roque in La Liga; Gavi in the Champions League; and Araujo in the Copa have been players who missed games due to suspension this season. Lamine Yamal missed two Copa del Rey matches due to a suspension from the previous season.