UEFA doesn’t want red cards like this

Real Madrid’s season comes to an end on April 15, with more than a month of the season still to play—something highly unusual for a club accustomed to competing for every title until the very end. It ends in cruel fashion, with the team having once again shown that Champions League edge that has defined so many recent triumphs, but against Bayern—and with a decision that runs counter to UEFA refereeing guidelines—it was nowhere near enough. As to Camavinga’s sending off, that’s a point that has been repeatedly stressed by officiating officials within European soccer’s governing body.

Neither the referee nor Eduardo Camavinga handled the decisive moment well. The red card tilted the game, or at least contributed significantly to doing so, and that is precisely the kind of situation UEFA aims to avoid, especially in matches of this magnitude. They don’t want these types of dismissals. That does not absolve a player who, in recent weeks, has looked increasingly out of sorts.

What happens next after Real Madrid’s departure from the Champions League

There is now ample time for decision-making, and some calls will come quickly, or at least shortly after the end of LaLiga. Real Madrid arrived in Munich having effectively surrendered the league title and carrying a poor run of form, a stark contrast to the image they projected at the Allianz Arena, where they were able to compete on equal terms with Bayern for long stretches.

In Germany they fought, played, and believed—qualities that had been missing at other points this season. Álvaro Arbeloa’s side went down with pride, but that alone does not win titles. The club has not lifted a trophy since December 2024, though it should not be forgotten that Real Madrid have redefined Champions League success over the past decade.

Real Madrid are not expected to abandon their clearly defined strategy. One of the club’s unwritten rules is that a coach who does not win trophies is rarely retained, although it is also worth noting that Arbeloa only took over in January, with half the season already gone. The coming days will be a time for analysis and reflection, but change is expected to arrive swiftly at Valdebebas.

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