Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé on brink of suspension as six Real Madrid stars risk ban vs Bayern Munich
Six Madrid and two Bayern stars are one yellow card away from missing the second leg of the quarterfinal next week in Munich.
Danger. Real Madrid head into tonight’s Champions League against Bayern Munich with six players walking a disciplinary tightrope. One more yellow card would rule them out of next week’s second leg.
And these are not fringe players. They include some of the team’s biggest stars.
Star attackers at risk of suspension
The most alarming names are in attack. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa risks losing both Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé for the return leg if either picks up a booking.
Behind them, Jude Bellingham, Álvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, and Aurélien Tchouaméni are also one yellow card away from suspension.
Rodrygo is also on the list but will miss out due to a long-term injury.
Together, these players form a core part of the squad that has driven Real Madrid through the knockout stages, including decisive contributions against elite opposition.
Key figures in Madrid’s European run
Huijsen, Tchouaméni, Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé have all played pivotal roles in recent Champions League performances.
Vinícius Jr. scored twice at the Etihad Stadium to help send Madrid through, while Mbappé has been in electric form, recording three goals and an assist across seven appearances against Bayern Munich.
Referee Michael Oliver’s previous Real Madrid games
English referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the match. In this season’s Champions League, he has averaged 4.44 yellow cards per game across seven matches.
That includes seven bookings in the PSV vs. Atlético Madrid fixture, along with an average of 23.56 fouls per match, underlining his strict control of physical play.
In his most recent match involving Madrid, Oliver booked Camavinga and Arda Güler in a 3-4 win over Olympiacos in Piraeus, a match highlighted by four goals from Mbappé.
He has refereed Madrid four times in total: twice more in the Champions League and once in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup final win over Eintracht Frankfurt, where he did not book any Madrid players.
In European competition, however, he has shown cards before. Against Juventus in 2018, he booked Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2023 against Braga, he cautioned Eduardo Camavinga and Nacho.
Which Bayern Munich players are close to a ban?
Bayern Munich also have disciplinary concerns of their own. Defenders Dayot Upamecano and Konrad Laimer are both one booking away from suspension heading into the second leg.
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