Barcelona, leaders of the Spanish Football League, announced today, Friday, that striker Robert Lewandowski will be available to play against Espanyol, after a Spanish court canceled his suspension.
Lewandowski was scheduled to miss the match after the Spanish Football Federation decided to suspend the Polish international striker for 3 matches after he was sent off in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Osasuna last November.
⚠️ BREAKING NEWS!
⚠️
Lewandowski can play tomorrow against Espanyol after the dispute settlement court in Madrid issued a precautionary measure against the suspension imposed by the court of arbitration for sport pic.twitter.com/IL0WCwiFeD
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 30, 2022
And the 34-year-old got a yellow card for pulling Nacho Vidal from behind in the 11th minute, and 20 minutes later he received another card after he appeared to elbow David Garcia in the face.
According to the Federation's Competitions Committee, Lewandowski was suspended for 3 matches due to a reference to the referee after he was sent off, which represents "contempt for the referees."
Barcelona said last November that it would appeal against the suspension.
🟨+🟨 = 🟥 for Lewandowski
Is it worth it in your opinion?
#La Liga #beINLiga #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/jIFSOFFHqn
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 8, 2022
According to reports in Spanish media, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the Catalan club's appeal earlier this December.
Barcelona said in a statement, "The Dispute Settlement Court in Madrid has issued a precautionary measure against the suspension imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which means that the Polish international striker will be able to play the Espanyol match."
Barcelona, who is two points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the league standings after 14 matches, hosts local rivals Espanyol on Saturday.