Real Madrid have found themselves in the eye of a disciplinary storm after a turbulent night in La Liga, where they slumped to a 2–0 defeat against Celta Vigo last Sunday. The match, already disappointing in terms of result, descended into chaos as three Madrid players were shown red cards—two during regulation time and one after the final whistle.
A Night of Growing Frustration
Defenders Fran García and Álvaro Carreras were both dismissed after committing fouls in an increasingly heated contest. García, who received two yellow cards in quick succession, left Madrid with ten men and shifted the momentum firmly in Celta’s favour. Tensions escalated further in the dying minutes, with the likes of Rodrygo, Federico Valverde and Carreras visibly losing their composure as frustrations mounted.
The drama did not end with the final whistle. Rising Brazilian forward Endrick, seated on the bench, confronted the fourth official in protest. Team-mates intervened swiftly, but the incident was serious enough for the referee to show him a red card retrospectively.
According to a match report filed by referee Alejandro Quintero—cited by Spanish outlet Marca—veteran right-back Dani Carvajal also directed insulting remarks at the referee in the tunnel after the match, further adding to Madrid’s disciplinary woes.
The Verdict from La Liga
The league’s disciplinary committee moved quickly. On Monday, it handed two-match bans to Endrick, Carreras, and Carvajal for misconduct. García, having been sent off via a double booking, will serve the standard one-match suspension.
Upcoming Matches Real Will Miss Key Men
Manager Xabi Alonso will face selection headaches ahead of Madrid’s visit to Alavés on Sunday. The squad will be without four players: Endrick, Carreras, García, and Carvajal. While García misses only the Alavés fixture, the other three will also be absent when Madrid face Sevilla on 21 December.
Madrid’s Form Under Pressure
Real Madrid’s recent run of form has raised concerns among supporters. Although they remain second in La Liga with 36 points after 16 matches—four behind league leaders Barcelona—the club’s momentum appears to be waning. Their struggles extended into Europe as well, with a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the Bernabéu in the Champions League, adding to a worrying trend: just two wins in their last eight matches across all competitions.
With disciplinary setbacks now compounding tactical and performance issues, Alonso’s side face a critical period as the season intensifies.
Suspensions Overview
| Player | Reason for Suspension | Matches Banned | Matches to Miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fran García | Second yellow → Red card | 1 | Alavés |
| Endrick | Confronting fourth official | 2 | Alavés, Sevilla |
| Álvaro Carreras | Misconduct / Red card | 2 | Alavés, Sevilla |
| Dani Carvajal | Insulting match referee | 2 | Alavés, Sevilla |
SB