Red alert in the Champions League: 51 players are under threat of ban

Yellow card accumulation has become a major issue in this season’s Champions League. Players who receive three bookings are suspended for one game, and with more fixtures in the new league phase – eight instead of the previous format – the risk of suspension has increased significantly.

The first suspension is triggered after three yellow cards. From there, bans arrive in cycles of two additional bookings – five, seven, nine and so on.

There is, however, one key reset. All yellow cards are wiped after the quarterfinals, meaning none carry over into the semifinals.

Real Madrid walking a tightrope

For the Spanish teams still in the competition, the situation is more delicate than ever. Real Madrid are particularly exposed. Up to six players are just one booking away from a suspension.

Rodrygo, who has struggled with injuries throughout the season, and both Carreras and Jude Bellingham – absent in the first leg – are among those at risk. Yet the real concern surrounds Vinícius Jr, Dean Huijsen and Aurélien Tchouaméni. If any of them receives a yellow card in the first leg of the round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu, they would miss the return game – a potentially serious setback for Álvaro Arbeloa’s side.

Barcelona on alert

Barcelona face a similar issue with several key players hovering on the brink of suspension. Lamine Yamal and Fermín López – both regular starters – are one booking away from missing a game. The same applies to Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó.

Which players are one yellow away from UCL ban?

Galatasaray: Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Noa Lang, Mario Lemina, Victor Osimhen, Roland Sallai, Davinson Sánchez and Uğurcan Çakır.

Liverpool: Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones.

Atalanta: Marten de Roon, Berat Djimsiti, Odilon Kossounou, Yunus Musah and Gianluca Scamacca.

Bayern Munich: Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano.

Newcastle United: Dan Burn and Joelinton.

Barcelona: Marc Casadó, Fermín López, Gerard Martín and Lamine Yamal.

Atlético Madrid: Thiago Almada, Pablo Barrios, Robin Le Normand, Clément Lenglet, Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill and Giuliano Simeone.

Tottenham Hotspur: Randal Kolo Muani, João Palhinha and Richarlison.

Bayer Leverkusen: Aleix García and Kofane.

Arsenal: Christian Nørgaard.

Paris Saint-Germain: Nuno Mendes.

Chelsea: Enzo Fernández and Andrey Santos.

Bodø/Glimt: Sondre Auklend and Patrick Berg.

Sporting CP: Luis Suárez.

Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham, Carreras, Dean Huijsen, Rodrygo, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Vinícius Júnior.

Manchester City: Marc Guéhi, O’Reilly and Savinho.

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