Real Madrid will have their eyes set on the Oct. 26 fixture at Camp Nou, and they may have received a bit of a reprieve due to a puzzling red card handed to Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona are back in second place in the table, as they more than took care of business on Matchday 8 by ripping apart Sevilla 4-0. Julen Lopetegui’s side was undefeated before falling 1-0 to Real Madrid a couple of weeks ago, and they were absolutely embarrassed by a returning Lionel Messi and Co.
But while Barcelona will be celebrating a big win, they should be worried about missing a key player for El Clasico on Oct. 26. Ousmane Dembele received a straight red card in the 88th minute with the game already well won. It’s unclear if this was meant as a straight red or a second yellow; the distinction is important since it would dictate the length of the suspension.
The reason for the red card? He insulted the referee? And what exactly did he say to the official that warranted a red? “Very bad, you are very bad.”
Redacción del acta de Mateu Lahoz. Habrá sanción para Dembelé . Se pierde el clásico pic.twitter.com/adPUAVNcOg
— Alfredo Martínez (@Alfremartinezz) October 6, 2019
Barcelona were already up 4-0 by this point, Dembele was playing well after scoring a wonderful solo goal, and there was just a brief flare-up due to youngster Ronald Araujo’s red card. Based on the description of the events above from the referee, this was likely meant as a straight red card which could be a two-game suspension for Dembele.
Since Barca play Real after the game against Eibar, a two-game suspension would take Dembele out of El Clasico. Barca would likely appeal the suspension if it were to come to that, and there’s a chance they could win the appeal. Dembele’s insult was quite basic; it probably wouldn’t even get a child in school punished.
If Dembele is suspended for at least two games, then Real Madrid will get to avoid facing one of the most talented footballers in the world. Dembele is a tricky customer who can set up teammates with delightful passes, embarrass defenders with his dribbling ability, or score some worldies with his technique and control. He isn’t consistent yet and deals with injuries, but he is undoubtedly another world-class attacker for Barcelona.
Another player to watch in Barca’s attack is teenage phenom Ansu Fati, who may or may not play for the team, depending on international duties for the U21 side. Stay tuned for more on his status and Dembele’s for El Clasico.