Why Joao Cancelo is absent from Barcelona squad against Slavia Prague | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are preparing for an important Champions League game against Slavia Prague later tonight. It is an away trip to Czechia to take on a team who have struggled to get going in Europe and is yet to win a game.

Yesterday, when Barcelona announced the travelling squad for the game, there were a few surprises in store. Ter Stegen and Dro Fernandez were omitted from the roster with their exits imminent. The former has been confirmed since.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres were also absent, through suspension and injury, respectively. Perhaps the surprise for many fans was the exclusion of winter signing Joao Cancelo, who made his debut for the club against Real Sociedad last weekend.

According to SPORT, the reason Cancelo cannot play against Slavia Prague is not sporting but bureaucratic. The Portuguese full-back is yet to be registered in the Champions League squad, as the window is not yet open.

Barcelona play their last game of the League Phase on 28 January against Copenhagen at the Spotify Camp Nou, after which they are allowed to make three additions in the squad before the deadline on 5 February.

The main squad list can include up to 25 players, and Barcelona currently have 22 registered, which includes Ter Stegen, who is leaving for Girona, and Andreas Christensen, who is sidelined with a long-term injury.

Thus, once the window opens, the club is expected to have no issue registering Joao Cancelo for the knockout rounds. However, Flick will have to do without him for the remaining two games, which is a minor hiccup rather than anything significant.