Marcel Sabitzer will be sidelined for Man Utd’s match with Barca

• He is barred from facing Barcelona in the first leg due to UEFA rule 52.03.
• He can play when the two European heavyweights meet again a week later.
• His absence is not a significant setback.

Marcel Sabitzer, like Lisandro Martinez, has been sidelined for Manchester United’s match against Barcelona.

The Red Devils go to Camp Nou on Thursday for the first leg of their much awaited Europa League play-off encounter, as Erik ten Hag and Xavi Hernandez’s teams compete for a spot in the last 16.

While Xavi will be without midfield anchor Sergio Busquets and explosive winger Ousmane Dembele, Ten Hag has discovered that he will be without a vital partnership of his own.

Martinez, the Argentine defender, has long been known that he will not play in Spain after receiving three yellow cards in the group round.

His third booking, which many fans and analysts believe was a lenient judgement, came during United’s 1-0 away win over Real Sociedad, a result that wasn’t enough to see them finish top of their group and assure automatic qualification to the round of 16.

Sabitzer, who received three bookings in the Champions League group stage, will now join him on the bench. The Austrian midfielder, who joined the Red Devils on loan till the end of the season, was yellow carded three times earlier this season when playing for parent club Bayern Munich.

Sabitzer is barred from facing Barcelona in the first leg due to UEFA rule 52.03, but he can play when the two European heavyweights meet again a week later on the 23rd at Old Trafford. That’s the same situation Martinez is in, handing Ten Hag two selection headaches ahead of the trip.

Sabitzer’s absence isn’t a significant setback, but it does mean that United may not be able to rely on any senior midfielders from the bench because midfield general Casemiro is expected to accompany Brazilian colleague Fred in midfield. Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are out until April and next season, respectively, while Scott McTominay has missed the last five games due to injury.

Also Read

Bayern Munich outclassed Barcelona 2-0 after two goals in early second half

Bayern Munich defeats Barcelona 2-0 in the Champions League on Robert Lewandowski's...