Real Madrid deactivate the yellow alert: with all for the Bernabéu | OneFootball

The King of Europe was at it again in a heart-stopping finale at the Etihad Stadium. Real Madrid were losing 2-1 in the 86th minute, but goals from Brahim and Bellingham turned the scoreboard around. The Whites came from behind twice. Haaland opened fire, putting the home side ahead in the first half, with the English team going ahead on the break. In the second half, Mbappé drew level on the hour mark. Haaland again, this time from the penalty spot, gave the English team the lead again in the 80th minute, but Brahim six minutes later and Bellingham, in added time, sealed the win for Ancelotti‘s side.

Beyond the result, which gives an advantage for the second leg on Wednesday 19th at the Santiago Bernabéu, another piece of good news for Real Madrid is that the players on the verge of receiving a card did not see one, so there will be no suspensions in the second leg.

Vinicius was not available against Brest because he was suspended after receiving his third yellow card of the season. In the Champions League, a player is suspended after receiving three cards, which is what the Brazilian received in the first seven games. With the sanction served, he was able to play in the Champions League Playoffs, but he will have to be careful if he doesn’t want to harm his team, since in the new competition format, the first cycle of cautions is 3, but in the next one it is no longer like that. If Vinicius now sees only two cards, he would miss another game.

This was not Real Madrid’s only concern ahead of the match in Manchester. The Whites had more players threatened with suspension for the first leg of the tie than any other team, although a couple of them, the Brazilian Militao and the German Antonio Rüdiger, could not play because they were part of the injured squad that makes up the Whites’ battered defense. In addition to them, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Brazilian Endrick, Frenchmen Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni and coach Carlo Ancelotti himself were also on notice after picking up two yellow cards during the league phase.

None of them was booked so, unless there are last-minute injury problems, they will all be able to play in the second leg. The qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League will be decided next Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.