Real Madrid’s ongoing injury crisis continues to put pressure on the team, as Carlo Ancelotti heads to Liverpool without six key players.
However, alongside this injury problem, the team also faces the risk of suspensions for several players. There are currently three active players in danger of missing future matches due to yellow card accumulation.
In fact, as many as three of these players—Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, and Lucas Vazquez—are at risk for the upcoming game on December 10th against Atalanta. Furthermore, although injured and won’t face Liverpool, Vinicius Jr. is at risk as well.
Troubles for Real Madrid
Modric has been booked twice in the group stages, first against Stuttgart and then Lille. Camavinga saw yellow in both the match against Lille and the one against Milan.
Meanwhile, Vazquez has received two yellow cards, one in the Stuttgart match and another against Milan.
Lucas Vaquez is at risk of suspension. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid are currently the second most-carded team in this year’s Champions League, with 14 yellow cards, just behind Girona, who have 15, and tied with Sturm Graz. Ancelotti himself has also been booked during the tournament.
Getting bad to worse
This growing list of yellow cards is proving to be a significant challenge for the defending champions. After recent defeats to Lille and Milan, Madrid cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to secure a top-eight finish in the group stage.
Finishing in the top eight guarantees a direct spot in the round of 16, bypassing the additional knockout round, which involves teams finishing between 9th and 24th place. Madrid, with six points from four games, are currently in 21st place.
It must be noted that the new tournament format now requires teams to play more matches, with the eventual champions needing to play between 15 and 17 games, compared to the previous 13.
Despite that, though, the rule regarding yellow card suspensions remains unchanged. Players who accumulate three yellow cards face a suspension, and subsequent bans occur after every two yellow cards.