The strange reason Lamine Yamal can’t play in Barbastro Copa del Rey clash

Lamine Yamal will not be able to play in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey clash with Barbastro on Sunday night as he has to serve a two-game ban for receiving a red card in last season’s youth tournament.

La Blaugrana visit Municipal de Deportes, the home of the fourth-tier side, on Sunday night in the last 32 of Spain’s domestic cup competition, entering later than other sides as Supercopa de Espana participants.

Barbastro bested third-tier Ponferradina before overcoming La Liga side Almeria to reach the last 32 and have never met Barca in a previous competitive fixture.

16-year-old Yamal was not included in Barca’s squad list – which includes heavy hitters like Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong as well as recent signing Vitor Roque – as he is banned for getting sent off for the youth team in a defeat to Malaga last year.

Barca boss Xavi told reporters: “We know that Lamine Yamal got a red card in the Copa del Rey [Junior] and will be suspended for two games.”

Yamal, who holds a number of club records for his Barca exploits at such a young age, has scored once in 18 La Liga appearances so far this season and bagged his first goals for Spain’s national team with efforts against Georgia and Cyprus in September and November respectively last year.

However, should Barca reach the next round as expected, Yamal will again be suspended.

The young Spain international’s absence could help Roque land a first Barca start since his move from Athletico Paranaense, having come close to scoring on his club debut in the win at Las Palmas.

Also in the squad are loanee Joao Felix, Brazilian winger Raphinha and summer arrival Ilkay Gundogan, though Xavi may deploy a more fringe starting XI with the aim of resting his seasoned campaigners before the Supercopa de Espana semi-final with Osasuna on Thursday.

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