Four Barcelona players at risk of getting suspended for the game against Real Madrid

As many as four Barcelona players will be at risk of suspension when the team take on Athletic Club at San Mames Barria on Sunday, March 12. This includes the likes of Sergio Busquets, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres.

All the aforementioned players have been booked four times in the league, meaning that one more caution will lead to a one-match suspension.

Missing out on any of the aforementioned names would put Barcelona in a great deal of trouble mostly because they are already sweating over the fitness of several first-team members and more importantly, they play Real Madrid next.

As for Busquets, he has already been sent off once this season. However, his four bookings have come against Cadiz, Mallorca, Celta de Vigo, and Athletic Club. Interestingly enough, the club captain has not been booked in the league since October 29, 2022. That is a stretch of 12 games without a booking.

Kessie, on his part, has only played 16 league games this season but has been at the receiving end of as many as four yellow cards. This includes back-to-back cautions against Elche and Mallorca followed by yellow cards against Real Madrid and Cadiz.

As far as Raphinha is concerned, three of his four cautions have come in 2023 alone. Ferran Torres, on the other hand, was last booked against Espanyol on December 31, 2022.

Against Athletic Club on Sunday, Barcelona are set to miss the services of key defender Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguayan, who received a straight red card against Valencia last time out, is suspended for the game. Furthermore, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri are going to be certain absentees, due to injuries.

On the flip side, the good news for Xavi and Co. is that Robert Lewandowski will be available for this game. The Poland international has fully recovered from his hamstring problem and is in line to start in the fixture.