Carlo Ancelotti will have an additional option for the Clasico, after Nacho Fernandez’s red card suspension was reduced from three to two matches.
The Real Madrid veteran threw himself on Portu, the Girona striker, in the final moments of the match, with his team leading 3-0. Portu was evacuated on a stretcher and taken to hospital by ambulance, but fortunately did not suffer serious damage. He remained on the bench in the following match against Cádiz.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly called Portu to apologize on behalf of Nacho.
Following the incident, Nacho was handed a three-match ban, but the appeal committee reduced it to two minutes. After serving the first match of this suspension against Osasuna, he will serve the second against Sevilla this weekend.
However, the reduction means he will be available to face Barcelona at Montjuic in the Clasico. Relevo reveals that the initial ban was based on a dangerous game causing damage that affects the victim’s ability.
Real Madrid appealed, asking for the sanction to be reduced to one match, alleging that Portu had not suffered any damage since he was in the Girona squad for the following match. He also claims that Nacho contested the ball and that it did not impact the outcome of the match.
The RFEF ruled that Real Madrid’s arguments were well-founded and therefore did not deserve the maximum sanction of three matches for the offense alleged against Nacho.
