Marcus Rashford was not in the starting lineup for Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Getafe on Sunday, despite scoring twice in midweek against Newcastle United.
The on-loan Manchester United forward was expected to start, with Lamine Yamal still sidelined.
But head coach Hansi Flick opted for Ferran Torres and Raphinha alongside Robert Lewandowski in the final third.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford was on the bench for disciplinary reasons after arriving late to a team meeting earlier in the day.
Flick has reportedly taken a strict stance on such matters since taking charge.
Previous examples include Jules Kounde, Inaki Pena, and Raphinha, who were all dropped for similar incidents this season.
When asked about Rashford’s absence after the match, Flick offered a more diplomatic explanation, telling reporters:
“It’s normal. I needed fresh legs. And he’s played minutes. You have to look after the players. I hope Rashford is okay.”
Rashford came on at half-time, replacing Raphinha, who had picked up a yellow card in the first half. Flick said that he made the substitution to avoid suspension:
“We did not want to lose him for the next match.”
Ferran Torres scored twice before the break, with Dani Olmo adding a third in the 62nd minute as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win over Getafe.
The result moves Barcelona back up to second place in La Liga, two points behind leaders Real Madrid.
The Catalan side have now won three games in a row in all competitions and will aim to extend that run when they travel to Real Oviedo on Thursday night.
But Lamine Yamal remains unavailable due to a groin injury sustained while on international duty with Spain.
The club is reportedly considering keeping Yamal out until their Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
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