Barcelona face off against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this evening and if they win they will go above Real Madrid on goal difference.
However, when the team was announced there was one noticeable absence in the starting lineup, Jules Kounde.
The in-form fullback has become a mainstay in Hansi Flick’s side so seeing Hector Fort start over him came as a shock.
Jijantes FC, via Managing Barca, has revealed that the reason Kounde was dropped is due to the Frenchman being late for Flick’s pre-match talk.
As we know from the Inaki Pena situation, the German coach values punctuality very highly so if Kounde was late then it should not be a surprise to him that he has been disciplined.
Hopefully, this is just a short-term punishment as the 26-year-old has become a vital part of the defensive line, as well as Barca’s attacking buildup play.