Lewandowski, punished with 3 matches for the expulsion in Pamplona

Xavi is without the Polish striker against Espanyol in the return to La Liga after the World Cup in Qatar (December 31, Camp Nou). Nor will he have it against Atlético at the Metropolitano (January 8) nor in Getafe’s visit to the Camp Nou. The Barça prepare an appeal for this harsh penalty to Lewandowski, which will leave him without a center forward in the second leg of the championship.

Barça will appeal

Lewandowski’s three games are broken down as follows. One has been for the expulsion for double yellow (he saw both cards in just 11 minutes when he hadn’t even played half an hour of the match against Osasuna) and two for “contempt or disregard” towards the collegiate player Gil Manzano, when he made a gesture by touching his nose while walking towards the changing room tunnel. Barça will resort to this punishment.

A gesture that, as indicated by the Polish forward after that it was towards Xavi and not towards the referee. But the Competition Committee did not understand it that way and therefore punished him with three matches. Piqué has lost four matches for “insults, verbal offenses and insulting attitudes” when he left the bench at halftime and went to look for Gil Manzano, whom he reprimanded in the dressing room tunnel, where he ended up being expelled.

The drafting of the referee’s report was essential for Lewandowski to be punished with three matches. “Once sent off and on his way to the exit of the field, the player twice made a gesture of disapproval with the referee’s decision, consisting of taking his finger to his nose, and then pointing his thumb towards referee. As he prepared to leave the field of play, he repeated the gesture again looking towards Assistant Referee No. 1 and in front of the fourth official,” Gil Manzano had written.