Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has been handed a one-match touchline ban in La Liga after receiving his third yellow card of the season. The booking came during Los Blancos’ surprising 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Saturday, leaving Ancelotti sidelined for their upcoming league fixture.
As a result, the Italian tactician will miss Real Madrid’s away clash against Deportivo Alaves—a crucial match as the league leaders look to solidify their position at the top of the table.
However, Ancelotti’s suspension does not extend to European competitions, meaning he will be on the touchline for Tuesday’s high-stakes UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal. The encounter is set to reignite a historic rivalry, with both teams vying for a crucial advantage in the tie.
In a further boost for Real Madrid, key players Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., and Dani Ceballos are all eligible for selection after escaping potential suspensions. UEFA had opened an investigation into their conduct following the dramatic penalty shootout victory over Atlético Madrid in the last 16, but the case has since been resolved in their favor.
With Ancelotti at the helm and a full-strength squad available, Real Madrid will aim to shift focus from their Valencia setback to their European ambitions.