Alba suspended for Barca’s trip to Athletic Bilbao

The left-back will be missed

Barcelona will have to cope without Jordi Alba for their next La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao due to suspension.

The left-back picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Valencia and will serve an automatic one-match ban.

He will be available for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Real Madrid but will have to sit out the trip to San Mames.

The news will be a blow for Ernesto Valverde due to Alba’s brilliant form this season and also because there’s no obvious replacement.

Sergi Roberto has played at left-back this season and is an option, as is Barcelona B’s Juan Miranda, while Thomas Vermaelen can also play on the left of the back four.