Three Barcelona players face suspension risk ahead of decisive Copenhagen clash

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published January 27, 2026

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Barcelona head into their decisive Champions League league-phase finale against FC Copenhagen chasing a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the round of 16, but with three players one booking away from a one-match suspension.

Reports say Fermín López, Marc Casadó and Gerard Martín each sit on two yellow cards in the league phase, meaning a caution against Copenhagen would trigger an automatic one-game ban in Barcelona’s next European match, whether that is a knockout play-off first leg or a round-of-16 first leg depending on the final standings.

UEFA’s 2025-26 Champions League regulations state that from the first match of the league phase, a player is suspended after three cautions (not resulting in a red card), and again after each subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.), with yellow cards and pending suspensions carried into the next relevant round, before they expire after completion of the play-offs.

Barcelona also have midfield availability issues, with Frenkie de Jong suspended and Pedri injured, Reuters reported in its match preview