The celebrations for FC Barcelona following their 3-2 Super Cup victory over Real Madrid have been slightly dampened by the disciplinary fallout.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who was sent off in the final minutes of the match in Jeddah, has learned his fate regarding the automatic suspension.
While the Dutch international will miss the next competitive fixture, the timing of the sanction provides a small silver lining for Hansi Flick as the team navigates a congested January schedule.
Barcelona Midfielder Suspended for Racing de Santander Match
The RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) has confirmed that Frenkie de Jong must serve a one-match ban following his straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Kylian Mbappé. Referee Munuera Montero noted the “high risk” of the action, as De Jong’s studs caught the Frenchman’s tibia.
According to Article 56 of the Disciplinary Code, sanctions incurred during the Super Cup must be served in the immediate next official match. Consequently, De Jong is officially ruled out of Barcelona’s Round of 16 Copa del Rey tie against Racing de Santander this coming Thursday.
Tactical Relief for Barcelona in La Liga
Despite the setback for the cup tie, the ruling is actually a boost for Barcelona in their pursuit of the league title.
Since the suspension is served during the midweek Copa del Rey fixture, De Jong will be fully eligible and rested for the high-stakes La Liga match against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena next Sunday.
Hansi Flick is expected to use the Racing de Santander match to rotate his squad, potentially giving more minutes to Gavi or Marc Casadó, ensuring his core midfield remains fresh for the trip to San Sebastián.
Barcelona Cleared to Register João Cancelo
In other major news for the club, Barcelona has finally received the medical “green light” from La Liga to utilize the salary space created by Andreas Christensen’s long-term injury.
This administrative breakthrough allows the club to officially register João Cancelo for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. After weeks of uncertainty, Flick now has his preferred versatile full-back available for selection, providing a timely boost as the team enters the business end of the season with their first trophy already in the cabinet.
Do you think Hansi Flick should start Gavi or Marc Casadó to replace the suspended De Jong in the upcoming Copa del Rey match?
