Jordi Alba successfully forces a booking, Suárez tries and fails
The full-back will serve a suspension against Las Palmas, rather than Atlético Madrid. The Uruguayan tried to do the same, but the referee was wise to it.
He tried very, very hard. But he failed. Luis Suárez could not break the rules. With Barcelona leading Girona 6-1 at Camp Nou, the striker committed a number of fouls in search of a yellow card. That elusive caution would have seen Suárez serve a suspension against Las Palmas on Thursday, rather than risk picking up a fifth booking of the season ahead of the first-versus-second clash against Atlético on Sunday.
Las Palmas seen as the match to miss
Jordi Alba succeeded in his attempt to find a way in to the referee's book. Referee Alberola Rojas cautioned Alba in the 87th minute for a foul on Pablo Maffeo. Like Suárez, Alba was also teetering on four yellow cards for the season.
As hat-trick hero Suárez made a concerted effort to foul Girona players in stoppage time, Alberola Rojas became wise to his ploy and refused to brandish a yellow card for fouls that, in any other context, would have been deserving of such punishment.
As Las Palmas are languishing in the LaLiga relegation zone, both players saw that match as more dispensable than the following one against Atleti, who are ten points behind Barcelona.
