Clement Lenglet red card gives Ernesto Valverde defensive headache

Clement Lenglet made his first La Liga start for Barcelona on Sunday at the Camp Nou against Girona, but it ended in disaster as he was sent off in the first half.

The centre-back was given a straight red for a forearm into the face of Pere Pons after just 35 minutes. The referee missed it initially, but he was eventually dismissed after a VAR check.

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Lionel Messi led Barcelona’s protests at the decision, but they were all in vain as the hosts were forced to play out the rest of the game with 10 men.

It’s a huge blow for Lenglet who was handed a chance to impress after Samuel Umtiti’s red card in the Champions League which will rule him out of their next fixture against Tottenham.

Valverde must choose between Lenglet or Thomas Vermaelen to partner Gerard Pique at Wembley Stadium, and Lenglet’s chances of playing will have been hit by his red card.

Barcelona only have two La Liga games before the fixture with Spurs, against Leganes on Wednesday and Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, and Valverde now has decisions to make.

Thomas Vermaelen must surely come into his thinking, and if he does play and impresses in either man he will be a serious option to face Spurs.

Lenglet remains an option, but it’s a headache Valverde could have done without ahead of what will be a tough game against Spurs at Wembley.