Lewandowski to miss Atletico Madrid game: Three match suspension upheld

Robert Lewandowski three-game ban was up held by The Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) in Spain

This means that the Barcelona striker will miss the game against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, among other things.

Barcelona had challenged the suspension imposed on the Polish striker following his red card against Osasuna, but the case has already been dismissed.

While the appeal was being considered, he was able to play in Saturday’s derby against Espanyol, much to the chagrin of the Periquitos.

Three LaLiga games have been completed.

Because the suspension only applies to LaLiga Santander matches, Lewandowski will be eligible to play in the Supercopa de Espana against Betis on Thursday, January 12.

Naturally, if the Blaugrana defeats the Verdiblancos, he will be entitled to play in the final.

However, Lewandowski will not play again in LaLiga Santander until February.

He will miss the games against Atletico Madrid (away), Getafe (home), and Girona (away), returning to LaLiga Santander on February 1 when Barcelona travels to Betis.

On Wednesday afternoon, TAD spent hours considering their choice, with Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez hopeful of a favourable outcome.

Perhaps that confidence played a part in not including him in the squad for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey game away to Intercity.

A story with many twists and turns

Barcelona had tried to appeal Lewandowski’s penalty for his red card at El Sadar on the basis that he was simply “expressing his unhappiness with the treatment received from the main referee”.

However, the player stated that his motions were intended towards Xavi.

TAD rejected all of Barcelona’s objections and upheld the initial sentence, which meant that Lewandowski would have missed the derby against Espanyol.

When the Blaugrana attempted to take the case to the Central Contentious Tribunal in Madrid, the sentence was suspended pending a review.

TAD has now upheld the initial judgement and decided that Lewandowski must serve his three-game punishment as stipulated.