Nicolo Barella has been handed a two-match ban by UEFA, meaning he will miss both legs of Inter Milan’s Champions League tie against Liverpool.
This news will be a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp and his side as they prepare to lock horns with the Italian champions in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Barella is an incredibly influential player for Inter having helped them win the Serie A title last season.
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He only missed two league games during the club’s title-winning campaign, making 46 appearances in all competitions.
Inter are on course to retain their Serie A crown and Barella has already featured 28 times in all competitions for the Nerazzurri.
The Italy midfielder will miss both legs against the Reds after an altercation with Real Madrid centre-half Eder Militao during the last matchday of the group stage.
The 24-year-old was sent off in the 64th minute of the 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital for punching the Brazilian on the leg.
UEFA’s control, ethical and disciplinary committee has banned Barella for two games. Gazzetta say that Inter will not appeal the ban.
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker was also handed a ban on Friday. He will miss three European matches after his red card foul on RB Leipzig’s Andre Silva was deemed as “assault”.
The England right-back was shown a straight red card for a petulant foul in the closing stages of Man City’s final Champions League group match against the German side.
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City boss Pep Guardiola certainly seemed unimpressed with Walker’s actions at the time.
“The red card hurts us, especially for the round of 16,” the Spaniard said after the game. “Kyle Walker is an important player for us and is unnecessary to lose him like this. I hope he learns from this.”
The Premier League champions face Sporting in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Portuguese capital on February 15 with the return at the Etihad Stadium on March 9.