Barcelona wonderkid Gavi is walking a suspension tightrope in their Europa League first leg against Manchester United.
UEFA’s website confirms Gavi will miss the second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford if he picks up a yellow card in the first leg at the Nou Camp this week.
Gavi, 18, is the only player on both teams who is one yellow card away from suspension for the second leg, due to bookings accumulated in the Champions League group stages.
All yellow cards are wiped clean after the quarter-final stage.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Two Manchester United players already suspended
Two Manchester United players are out of the first leg against Barcelona due to suspension already. One of these is Lisandro Martinez, who received three group stage bookings.
The other is new loan signing Marcel Sabitzer, who is suspended after receiving three yellow cards in the Champions League group stages for Bayern Munich. Suspensions carry over between competitions mid-season.
Both Martinez and Sabitzer will be available for the second leg at Old Trafford.
Barcelona midfield worries
Barcelona cannot afford to lose Gavi because they are already set to be without midfielder Sergio Busquets for the first leg at least.
Busquets suffered an injury a fortnight ago and has not played since. Marca reported he was targeting a return in the second leg.
There will be extra focus on Frenkie de Jong in the first leg, against the club who tried to sign him in the summer.
The good news from Manchester United’s perspective is the availability of Casemiro, despite his domestic suspension.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
