La Liga has officially announced that Robert Lewandowski and Joao Cancelo will each face only a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards, ensuring their availability for the upcoming clash against Real Madrid.
The decision comes despite controversy surrounding the circumstances of their bookings in the recent match against Las Palmas.
Both Lewandowski and Cancelo received their fifth yellow cards in the match against Las Palmas, leading to speculation that they intentionally sought the bookings to serve their suspensions in the less crucial fixture against Cadiz, thereby ensuring their eligibility for the highly anticipated encounter against Real Madrid.
According to La Liga’s disciplinary rules, such behavior typically results in a doubled suspension.
However, after reviewing the incidents, league officials determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the notion that Lewandowski and Cancelo deliberately sought the yellow cards.
Consequently, both players will serve only a one-match ban and will be eligible to participate in the pivotal clash against Real Madrid.
Lewandowski’s yellow card was issued for delaying his departure from the field during a late substitution, while Cancelo received his for a tactical foul in the closing stages of the game.
Despite the controversy surrounding their bookings, the league deemed the incidents less severe than previous cases where intentional bookings were evident.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will have to contend with the absence of center-back Inigo Martinez for the Cadiz fixture, as he received a yellow card in the same match against Las Palmas.
Unlike Lewandowski and Cancelo, there were no doubts regarding the intentions behind Martinez’s caution.
As the match against Real Madrid looms large on the horizon, the decision regarding Lewandowski and Cancelo’s availability provides a boost for both their respective teams.
With just one round of fixtures remaining before the crucial showdown, Real Madrid currently holds a significant lead at the top of La Liga, positioning them as favorites heading into the highly anticipated encounter.
