There are several players at risk of being suspended for the second leg if they get a yellow card during the game between AC Milan and Roma tonight.
The first leg of the tie will take place at San Siro at 21:00 CEST, and in addition to drawing up various tactical schemes, Stefano Pioli and Daniele De Rossi must have an eye on the players who are at risk of missing the return leg in the capital next week.
UEFA’s article 52 explains how before the group stage, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).
After the completion of every two rounds in a UEFA club competition (i.e. UEFA Champions League and/or UEFA Europa League and/or UEFA Europa Conference League) in which a player was registered on a club’s list and eligible to play, the number of yellow cards he received that did not result in a repeated caution suspension is reduced by one.
From the first match in the group stage, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, which did not result in a red card, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).
That means there are as many as seven players at risk of suspension as they are within a booking of a ban in the squad. Among the Rossoneri ranks, the biggest danger is linked to Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan, then Davide Calabria and Yunus Musah are the others.
For De Rossi’s men meanwhile, Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes join Leonardo Spinazzola on the disciplinary tightrope.
