FC Barcelona centre back and Argentina international Javier Mascherano has been handed a two match following his red card in their La Liga clash with Eibar on Sunday.

No tango

The club in Catalonia was worried that the center back would receive a four match ban that would have made him suspended for El Clasico against Real Madrid on the 21st of November. 

Referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande said the 31-year old was dismissed for directing an common Argentine insult at him seven minutes from time in the 3-1 win against the Spanish minnows. The suspension means the defender will miss Barcelona's league matches against Getafe and Villarreal, but will not miss any of the UEFA Champions League matches. The defending Spanish and European champions currently sit even with their bitter rivals with 21 points, with only goal difference seperating the two.

El jefe

The defender has been an important player in the back alongside either Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu or Marc Bartra to name a few defenders, he has been a reliable asset to the Blaugrana. He will also captain his native Argentina for the absent Lionel Messi, who is out with injury in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil in Buenos Aires on November 13th and against Colombia in Barranquilla four days later. Javier Mascherano has made 120 apperances for his nation and is second all-time behind Javier Zanetti (145) as the most capped player in Argentine history and also has three goals to his name.

In the five years he was at FC Barcelona, he has made over 200 apperances but has yet to score a goal for the Blaugrana. Nevertheless, he is a double UEFA Champions League winner in 2011 and 2015 and a three time La Liga champion in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

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About the author
Roberto Rojas
Writing about the beautiful game. Cohost of the @LowLimitFutbol Podcast.