Which Real Madrid players are a yellow card away from a Champions League semi-final suspension?

Real Madrid and Manchester City face off in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with the winner facing either Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the semi-finals. Los Blancos will have to win in England - either outright or via a penalty shootout - to reach the last four, although a number of players will have to be on their best behaviour to avoid incurring a suspension for the first leg, should they get there.

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Tchouaméni available for potential UCL last-four game after ban

Carlo Ancelotti won’t be able to call upon Aurélien Tchouaméni in the decisive game against City after the midfielder, who has been playing central defence of late, received his third yellow card in the competition in the first leg against Pep Guardiola’s team.

The Frenchman will be available to return against either Bayern or Arsenal if Real Madrid progress, although he could have to replace any one of four teammates who are now walking a disciplinary tightrope and must steer clear of referee Daniele Orsato in Manchester.

Bellingham and Vinícius among four players at risk of a Champions League semi-final suspension

And it’s not just any four players. The big danger for Ancelotti and Los Merengues is they could be without Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior or both for the first leg of the semi-finals, with both players having been booked twice in the 2023/24 Champions League so far.

Bellingham and Vinícius have been Madrid’s most important attacking weapons this season, scoring 38 goals and providing 20 assists between them in all competitions.

Additionally, first-choice right-back Dani Carvajal and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who has been in and out of the team in recent weeks, are also a yellow card away from a suspension.

Which Manchester City players are one booking away from a Champions League ban?

As for Manchester City, they could find themselves with significant selection issues in defence if they reach the semi-finals, with Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji, undisputed first picks, a yellow card away from a ban.

What are the suspension rules in the Champions League?

Up until the end of the last eight, players who receive three yellow cards must serve a one-match suspension, followed by an additional one-game ban if they then reach an odd number of bookings (five, seven etc).

That would run over into the semi-finals if they were shown their third (or fifth, or seventh) yellow card in the second leg of the quarter-finals.

However, with everyone starting from scratch when the last four gets underway, it is impossible for players to miss the Champions League final due to an accumulation of bookings.