FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.04.2010 12:44

Puyol suspended for second leg

Jordi Clos

Carles Puyol (Barca) and Dejan Stankovic (Inter) will be suspended for the Champions League semi-final return leg after being yellow carded on Tuesday evening. Despite dominating possession, Barca had five players booked to just two from Inter.

Barca will have to be at their very best to dump Inter Milan out of the competition next week. Indeed, only a performance than like the one against Chelsea last season will be enough to ensure a place in the Madrid final. However, they’ll have to do the job without talismanic captain Carles Puyol who saw his third yellow card of the European campaign for a foul on Milito. Inter’s Dejan Stankovic will also miss the return leg.

The miracle

Guardiola told reporters after the match: “It’s a miracle that Barca have committed more fouls than the opponent”. Despite enjoying 67% of the possession, Barca conceded 21 fouls as against 19 by Inter, and were shown five yellow cards (Puyol, Busquets, Keita, Piqué and Alves) compared with two for Inter.

Threat of suspension

There are five players who will miss the final if they receive a yellow card in the next match. The unlucky Dani Alves, who missed last year’s final due to suspension, is the only Barca player in this position while for Inter Eto’o, Maicon, Samuel and Zanetti are all one yellow away from suspension.