"The player in question is Gerard Martin. That is because the young defender had picked up a booking against Levante during the injury time of first-half. Martin, who started the game at centre-back alongside Eric Garcia, was penalised for a foul, which didn't look like a foul as it involved very little contact. However, that didn't stop the referee from dishing out a yellow card, which means the defender now has five yellow cards for the season and will, therefore, miss the next game."
"Garcia's absence, though, vindicates Flick's decision to bench Pau Cubarsi against Levante. The young defender will be fresh and ready to start in the absence of Martin against Villarreal, with Ronald Araujo likely to serve as an alternative. To Flick's fortune, Joao Cancelo, too, has impressed in the left-back position against Levante, meaning he can be considered a viable alternative for Alejandro Balde in the left-back position at all."
Barcelona prepare to face Villarreal in a crucial La Liga match after an entertaining win over Levante at Camp Nou. Key players Pedri and Marcus Rashford have returned to availability. Hansi Flick will miss defender Gerard Martin for the Villarreal match after Martin picked up a yellow card in first-half injury time at Levante, bringing his season total to five bookings and triggering a one-match suspension. Eric Garcia's absence validated the decision to bench Pau Cubarsi previously, and Cubarsi is expected to start alongside Ronald Araujo as an alternative. Joao Cancelo impressed at left-back and can cover Alejandro Balde. Barcelona should manage the suspension with minimal issues, though Flick would have preferred Garcia available for the subsequent Athletic Club fixture.
Read at Barca Universal
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