Monday 7 November 2016 10:41, UK
Luis Suarez says his yellow card against Sevilla on Sunday night was "a good thing" so he can have a clean slate for vital Barcelona clashes later this month.
The Uruguayan will now be banned for the home match against Malaga on November 19 having picked up five bookings this season, and means he will run less of a risk of being suspended for matches at Real Sociedad and at home to Real Madrid.
Suarez's yellow came in the 88th minute of Barca's 2-1 win at Sevilla, having shown dissent to referee Jaime Latre.
"The yellow card was actually a good thing," Suarez told Canal Plus.
"I start with a clean slate again ahead of games away against Real Sociedad and versus Real Madrid."
In 2004 David Beckham issued a formal apology for picking up a deliberate yellow card in England's World Cup 2006 qualifier, which meant he would be suspended for the trip to Azerbaijan while he already knew he would be out injured for a month.
And in 2013 Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso were accused of deliberate bookings in Real Madrid's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Galatasaray, meaning they would be suspended for the second leg and gain a clean slate for the semi-final.
Barcelona moved to within two points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid after coming from behind to beat Sevilla in a pulsating contest on Sunday night.
Lionel Messi scored Barcelona's first and created the second for Suarez after Vitolo handed Sevilla the lead.
