Busquets booked 11 times in 23 games with Antonio Mateu as ref
Ernesto Valverde has a big decision to make ahead of the Depor clash with Sergio Busquets on the brink of a suspension, and with El Clásico approaching.
Ernesto Valverde will release his team news ahead of Barcelona's game against Deportivo la Coruña at the Camp Nou one hour before the game. Something to keep an eye on when he names is his eleven is Sergio Busquets given his history with referee on the night Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
The anchor at the base of Barca's midfield has been booked 11 times in 23 games under Mateu Lahoz' watch. That's almost a yellow every two games and with Busquets on the brink of a suspension if he sees the book tonight, Valverde has a tough call.
Valverde's previous in situations like this mean Busquets is likely to play. He picked Piqué to start against Leganes despite and he eventually missed the Valencia game with a foul on Nordin Amrabat ruling him out of that top of the table clash. Also, with nothing to play for in the final game of the Champions League group stages against Sporting Club de Portugal, Valverde picked Nelson Semedo and he too was booked meaning he will not play the first leg against Chelsea.
This, however, is El Clásico we are speaking about and Valverde might be unwilling to take the risk considering how poorly his other two decisions in the same circumstances ended up.
| Classification | PTS | WM | TM | LM |
|---|
| Upcoming matches |
|---|
| Classification | PTS | WM | TM | LM |
|---|
| Upcoming matches |
|---|