Why Unai Hernández cannot take suspended Gavi's place v Shakhtar

Xavi has been conditioned for some weeks now by the injuries that have plagued FC Barcelona's first-team. With a small squad, the fact that injuries have accumulated to indispensable players for the coach has led to opportunities for the youth team.

With regard to the squad for Wednesday's match against Shakhtar, Xavi will once again have a string of absentees and will have to do some juggling to complete the list. If Héctor Fort, Unai Hernández and Marc Guiu were already needed against Athletic Club on Sunday, on this occasion it will be even more complicated to compile a squad.

Firstly, because of the already known absence of Gavi. The player from Villafranca and Los Palacios was sent off last time out at Do Dragao for a double yellow card. But with respect to those who were called up against Athletic, Unai Hernandez will not be available either.

None of Unai, Marc Guiu or Héctor Fort are currently registered to play in the Champions League. But Fort and Guiu can enter the B list as they have been with the club for more than two seasons. In fact, Barça are already processing their registrations and there should be no problem as they have until 23:59 on Tuesday.

Unai's case is not viable, as the regulations do not allow players who have been with the club for less than two years to be registered on the B list. The Girona-trained player arrived in the summer of 2022 to play for the youth team. He is currently a permanent fixture at Barça Atlètic and is very much liked by the first-team staff. He has already been called up twice and we can't rule out seeing him make his debut very soon at the age of 18.

It is a regulation that doesn't make much sense. He could have played if he had been included in the A-list alongside the