Barcelona duo will miss second leg vs PSG

Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen will not be taking the field in the upcoming second-leg match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium next Tuesday. 

Roberto, the team’s captain, received a yellow card in the 34th minute of the game, adding him to the list of seven cautioned players from Barcelona. Consequently, he is set to serve a suspension during the home leg against PSG. 

His caution stemmed from an incident where he impeded Marco Asensio’s progress towards the Barça goal, drawing the rage of the referees.

Christensen, who was subbed in for De Jong in the 76th minute, also found himself in hot water. He earned a yellow card in the 88th minute for a clear foul on Warren Zaire-Emery. 

This ill-timed violation further compounds Barcelona’s woes, as Christensen will be ineligible to participate in the crucial match against PSG. Ultimately, the absence of these key players deals a blow to Barcelona’s lineup.

Others were at risk too

Andreas Christensen will be absent in the second leg against PSG. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Apart from Roberto and Christensen, five other Barcelona players were walking a disciplinary tightrope. 

This includes Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Joao Felix, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres who were all on alert, knowing that another yellow card could see them facing similar consequences. 

With such a significant portion of the team at risk of suspension, Barcelona will need to exercise caution and discipline in their play to avoid further setbacks in their pursuit of winning the UEFA Champions League.

As for the match, Raphinha stole the show for Barcelona, scoring two goals against PSG to secure a thrilling comeback. 

His efforts helped Barcelona grab a 3-2 lead to take home for the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

The game’s narrative also revolved around Enrique’s lineup choices. He couldn’t field Achraf Hakimi due to suspension and decided to leave out Zaire-Emery. Additionally, he also surprised many by starting Marco Asensio.