Real Madrid mainstay suspended for UCL round of 16 first leg after yellow card against Man City | OneFootball

Real Madrid celebrated a flawless victory over Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs, securing their spot in the next round.

However, the only setback from an otherwise perfect match was Jude Bellingham receiving a yellow card, which will see him miss the first leg of the round of 16.

The English midfielder entered the game already carrying a caution and was booked in the 38th minute of the first half after a challenge on Phil Foden.

As a result, he will be unavailable for the first leg of Real Madrid’s upcoming knockout stage clash.

There were others too

Other Real Madrid players, including Aurelien Tchouameni, Antonio Rudiger, and Eduardo Camavinga, were also at risk of suspension as they had accumulated yellow cards.

However, they managed to avoid further bookings and will be available for Carlo Ancelotti in the next Champions League fixture.

Jude Bellingham was shown a yello card against Man City. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Bellingham’s suspension in Europe adds to his disciplinary troubles in domestic competition. In La Liga, he was recently sent off for dissent against referee Munuera Montero during a match against Osasuna.

As a result, the disciplinary committee imposed a two-match ban on the midfielder. This means that he will be unavailable for the next two league fixtures as well as the first Champions League knockout match.

Possible opponent

If Real Madrid progress past Manchester City, their potential quarter-final opponents will be either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, managed by Xabi Alonso, a managerial target for Real Madrid.

Both matchups present a significant challenge, particularly if they face their city rivals, and Bellingham’s absence in the first leg could be a major setback.

The Champions League regulations state that yellow card accumulations are only wiped clean at the semi-final stage. Therefore, any player advancing to the round of 16 with two bookings will remain at risk of suspension until the last four of the competition.