Nine Real Madrid & Arsenal players at risk for suspension in Champions League 2024-25 semi-final first-leg

Los Blancos will host the Gunners tonight in the quarter-final second leg.

Ahead of tonight’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match at the Bernabeu, nine players from Arsenal and Real Madrid face the risk of suspension for the semi-final second leg.

If any of Arsenal’s four players—Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Gabriel Martinelli—are given a yellow card against Madrid, they might miss the first leg of a possible semi-final match.

Five Real Madrid players are likewise balancing the same disciplinary tightrope and will sit out the semi-final game if the Los Blancos make it to the last four of the competition.

If they receive a booking, Vinicius Junior, Luka Modric, Antonio Rudiger, Endrick, and Lucas Vázquez would all be suspended for the semi-final game.

Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, is also one yellow card away from a touchline suspension. However, following the quarter-final phases, the yellow cards slate will be cleared.

Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus—all longtime absentees—remain on the sidelines. Prior to tonight’s trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, there are also serious questions around players like Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, and Ben White.

Arsenal will try to advance to the final four after taking a 3-0 lead in the first leg at the Emirates. But the Gunners will face a big hurdle against Madrid, as they will play against them at the infamous Bernabeu.

Speaking after his side’s first-leg win, Arteta said: “You have to continue to make steps, and tonight we have won in the right direction. Now it’s half-time, and now we have to go to the Bernabeu and we’re going to have to elevate the level again to be the team that we want to be there, and to prepare the game to win it.”

However, the team with the higher two-leg aggregate score will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who defeated Aston Villa on Tuesday.

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