Spanish giants Barcelona face a potential disciplinary crisis as they navigate the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. During their 1-1 draw with Napoli in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, midfielder Frenkie de Jong was booked, adding his name to a growing list of players walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Following their return to continental action, Barcelona battled Napoli in a tense encounter, with Robert Lewandowski and Victor Osimhen scoring for their respective sides. The tie remains finely balanced heading into the second leg at Camp Nou in three weeks’ time.
While a quarter-final berth remains within reach, Barcelona’s ambitions could be hampered by potential suspensions. Head coach Xavi Hernandez and his staff are now sweating over the availability of five key players.
Prior to Wednesday’s match, Ronald Araújo, João Félix, Sergi Roberto, and Ferran Torres were all one yellow card away from a one-match European ban. Of this quartet, only Araújo and Félix featured in Naples, and both managed to avoid receiving a caution.
However, de Jong’s early booking means he joins his teammates in the precarious position where a disciplinary lapse against Napoli next month could prove costly.
As Barcelona strive to advance in Europe’s premier club competition, their path forward is potentially fraught with the threat of suspensions. Managing their players’ disciplinary records will be crucial if they are to overcome Napoli and progress to the quarter-finals.