Four Barcelona stars at suspension risk ahead of Newcastle United encounter | OneFootball

Barcelona will take on Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 tie this Tuesday at St James’ Park, with the objective of securing a victory that puts them on course for a place in the quarterfinal.

The Blaugrana go into the match with several absences due to injury – Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are all unavailable.

While Gavi has travelled with the squad to England, he has not yet received medical clearance to get back on the pitch.

In addition to that, manager Hansi Flick will also have to deal with the situation of some important players staring at the risk of suspension.

Four players on the cusp of suspension

Indeed, going into tomorrow’s match, Barcelona have as many as four players who are only one yellow card away from an automatic suspension.

The four stars in question happen to be teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, fellow academy graduates Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado, and versatile defender Gerard Martin.

Gerard Martin and Marc Casado are on two yellow cards. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Fermin, Casado, and Martin are all currently on two yellow cards in the UEFA Champions League this season, while Lamine has four cautions against his name.

The 18-year-old rising superstar already missed the match against SK Slavia Prague after receiving three yellow cards during the league phase and later collected his fourth against FC Copenhagen.

Now, another booking for him and the other three players tomorrow at St James’ Park would lead to an automatic one-match suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.

It would then rule them out of the second leg of the Round-of-16 tie against Newcastle at the Spotify Camp Nou next week – a scenario that Flick & co. will be intent on avoiding, especially given the number of absentees through injury.