Barcelona wants to keep pace in the title race of La Liga while they organize Rayo Vallecano on Monday, but they will do this without an important player. Hansi Flick has to do without the services of influential midfielder Fermin Lopez, who will be forced to be in the stands at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company.
Fermin was the catalyst for Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Sevilla last weekend, because he scored for less than 60 seconds after he had been supplied after the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. However, his appearance lasted only 17 minutes because he was sent away shortly thereafter for a challenge on Djibril SOW, although the Catalans still succeeded in seeing the result with 10 men.
Referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez on the field has rejected Fermin for an “tackle against an opponent in dispute for the ball with the help of excessive force”, and for that the 21-year-old will miss the fixture against Rayo. However, that will be the only game he misses, because Marca has confirmed that it is only a suspension of one game distributed by the competition committee of the Spanish football federation.
It means that Flick has an option less in midfield to play alongside Pedri and Marc Casado or Frenkie de Jong. Dani Olmo is back after an injury and has a good chance to be called, while Gavi was able to keep his place in the line-up, despite a fewer performance against Seville.
Barcelona will be clear favorites to beat Rayo Vallecano, although the side of Inigo Perez in the Catalan capital will arrive at a rich form of form. They are unbeaten in their last eight LA Liga matches, so the trust will be high for the kick-off on Monday evening. However, they must conclude the will of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who will soon get a new contract from Civilians from Can Barca.
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