Barcelona face a tricky decision on Messi & De Jong

FC Barcelona boss Koeman heads into the club’s latest La Liga match this weekend with a tricky decision hanging over him.

Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong are both just one booking away from a suspension ahead of Barcelona’s visit to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday night.

After a miraculous comeback in their Copa del Rey semi-final victory over Sevilla, Barcelona face Osasuna on Saturday before the trip to Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie four days later.

Messi and De Jong are one card away from La Liga suspension. pic.twitter.com/7MkzlIMzSw

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) February 28, 2021

Three points in Pamplona could allow Ronald Koeman’s men to recover ground in the league title race. Especially as table-toppers Atletico Madrid will face Real Madrid in a derby on Sunday afternoon.

But Diario Sport has reported Messi and De Jong are only a booking away from a suspension. If either of them is reprimanded on Saturday, they will miss the next league game against Huesca on March 15.

The Barcelona manager’s obvious hope is that both players avoid getting a fifth yellow card for the season. Therefore, they won’t be suspended ahead of a key run of fixtures that will define the club’s title hopes.

Real Sociedad at San Sebastian, Real Valladolid at home, and then Real Madrid in a Clasico will come up after the Huesca match.