Key Barcelona defender set to miss Champions League opener vs Feyenoord

Key Barcelona defender set to miss Champions League opener vs Feyenoord The draw for the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League took place earlier this week, with FC Barcelona learning their eight opponents for the first round. Earlier today, the schedule for the league phase of the competition was officially announced , with the Blaugrana kicking off their European campaign with a home game against Feyenoord. No Eric Garcia vs Feyenoord However, the La Liga champions will have to go into the clash with a key defender unavailable. Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo , Eric Garcia will miss Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord on Wednesday, September 9, at the Spotify Camp Nou. Under Article 63.01 of the UEFA regulations for the 2026/27 Champions League, any player sent off must serve a one-match suspension in the next European competition match for which he is eligible. Eric Garcia will miss Barcelona’s UCL opener. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Garcia received a straight red card in the second leg of last season’s Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, which Barcelona won 2-1, but the Catalans were eliminated on aggregate. As a result, Hansi Flick will be without the defender for the opening European fixture of the new campaign. The absence could be particularly significant given Garcia’s importance at right-back, with the World Cup winner now becoming the first-choice starter in the position. Jules Kounde and Xavi Espart are the two main alternatives available to Flick in that position. Eric is Barcelona’s first-choice right-back. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Changes to the yellow-card system UEFA has also introduced a change to the disciplinary system this season. The first yellow-card cycle now runs to four bookings rather than three, meaning a player will receive a one-match suspension after accumulating four yellow cards from the start of the league phase. After that, the cycles become shorter. Suspensions will follow every two additional yellow cards, meaning after the sixth, eighth, tenth booking and so on. As has been the case in recent seasons, yellow cards are wiped after the Champions League quarter-finals, so they do not carry over into the semi-finals. There is one important exception. If a player receives the yellow card in the second leg of the quarter-finals that completes a suspension cycle, he will still miss the first leg of the semi-finals. For Barcelona, however, the immediate issue is clear: Garcia will have to watch the Feyenoord match from the stands as he serves the suspension carried over from last season.