Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender will miss UCL semi-final first leg due to suspension if they qualify
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao will not be a part of the team’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg, provided they qualify, as he is set to be suspended for one match.
Real Madrid are currently facing Chelsea in the second leg of their UCL quarter-final at Stamford Bridge and have a 2-0 aggregate lead from the first leg.
Militao entered the game having picked up two yellow cards so far in the Champions League. While cards are erased after the quarter-final stages, any suspensions are carried forward to the penultimate phase of the competition, meaning a yellow card in today’s game would result in Militao being suspended.
And that is exactly what happened as the defender was booked for a high challenge in the first period at Stamford Bridge.
It will now see Militao miss the first leg of the UCL semi-final against Bayern Munich or Manchester City, although they still have an hour to get through at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea to book a place in the final-four stage.
The Brazilian international was also seen limping on the pitch and Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that there is no injury issue with his centre-back.
Meanwhile, Dani Carvajal is also in a similar situation and will need to avoid a booking in order to not get suspended for the possible semi-final.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
