Marcel Sabitzer has been suspended by UEFA for Manchester United’s first-leg Europa League match against Barcelona.
United Sabitzer was set to be suspended for the first leg of this month’s Europa League knockout play-off, according to In Focus.
Sabitzer will now miss the upcoming match at the Nou Camp, according to UEFA’s website.
He is one of two players who will miss the first leg, the other being Lisandro Martinez, who received his third yellow card of the competition in the final group stage game.
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Why Sabitzer is suspended
Marcel Sabitzer is suspended because he picked up three yellow cards in the Champions League group stages for Bayern Munich, with the third received in their final group game.
This meant he was due to be suspended for the first leg of Bayern’s last 16 games against PSG until he switched clubs.
UEFA’s website rule 52.03 states suspensions are carried over from one competition to another, during the same seasons.
Sabitzer’s absence is also significant because he faced Barcelona twice in the Champions League group stages, playing 45 minutes in a 2-0 win and 45 minutes in a 3-0 win.
The good news for Manchester United is that Sabitzer will be available for the second leg against Barcelona at Old Trafford.
When will Sabitzer get to play alongside Casemiro?
Sabitzer has been a useful addition to Manchester United since arriving on loan. He was first signed to fill the gap created by Christian Eriksen’s injury.
An extra complication came with Casemiro receiving a three-game suspension. Sabitzer is yet to play alongside him.
Casemiro is eligible to play against Barcelona, whom he knows well from his time at Real Madrid, and he is also rested after a week off.
Then he’ll be suspended again for Sunday’s league game against Leicester when Sabitzer will be eligible.
The pair will play together for the first time in the second leg against Barcelona, followed by the Carabao Cup final.
