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Barcelona go into their Champions League match at Slavia Praha with selection concerns on and off the pitch. Coach Hansi Flick is missing several players through injury and will also be without Lamine Yamal due to suspension. Four others have each collected two yellow cards in the competition, leaving them one caution away from a one-match ban.
Barcelona balance selection and discipline risks for Slavia Praha clash
Barcelona head into the Champions League clash against Slavia Praha knowing a win is essential to keep their hopes of a top-eight finish alive. The sporting stakes are high, but squad management is also a key issue for Hansi Flick, who must weigh fielding his strongest side against the risk of losing important players for the final group-stage match.
Flick is already short-handed, with Ferran Torres, Gavi and Andreas Christensen unavailable because of injury. Lamine Yamal will miss the match through suspension, further reducing options and limiting room for manoeuvre as Barcelona shape their starting XI for Prague.
The situation is complicated by four players who are one booking away from a Champions League suspension. Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Gerard Martin and Marc Casado have each accumulated two yellow cards, meaning another caution would trigger a one-match ban and rule them out of the final group-stage fixture against FC Copenhagen at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The risk is especially significant for De Jong and Fermin, who are expected to feature prominently from the start in Prague. Their roles in midfield are described as vital to Barcelona’s structure and tempo, leaving Flick with limited scope to rest them despite the disciplinary danger.
With qualification margins described as extremely tight, Barcelona must pursue three points while keeping discipline in check. The report noted the contest could become intense and physical, placing added emphasis on avoiding unnecessary bookings that could lead to further absences at a decisive moment.
