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Barcelona’s Neymar suspended for 3 games, to miss El Clasico

There seems to be no respite on hand for Barcelona and their Brazilian forward, Neymar!

Barcelona’s Neymar suspended for 3 games, to miss El Clasico

Neymar (Photo: AFP)

Barcelona’s preparations for the El Clasico at the end of April took a major hit as the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Tuesday announced that star forward Neymar has been suspended for three games.

The 23-year-old Brazilian was sent off for two bookable offences in Barcelona’s 2-0 loss at Malaga over the weekend and with the match referee’s final report on the match to be analysed during the week, there were fears that the mercurial forward would be given an added suspension.

While his first yellow card was a deliberate attempt to delay Malaga from taking a free kick by tying his shoelaces, his second was a cynical challenge on a Malaga defender as he lost his cool after being on the receiving end of a few rough challenges.

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With Real Madrid three points clear of Barcelona in the La Liga rankings, despite having played a game less, the decision to suspend Neymar for three games could not have come at a worse time.

Since the suspension applies to domestic competitions only, Neymar is free to take part in both legs of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Serie A side Juventus.

The games he is set to miss are: Real Sociedad (16 April), Real Madrid (23rd April) and Osasuna (26 April).

While Barcelona are expected to appeal the decision, it is unlikely their appeal will be successful and they will just have to make do without the talented Brazilian for the aforementioned games.

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