Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Up to six Real Madrid players could receive bans in the Champions League, as well as head coach ... [+] Carlo Ancelotti. AFP via Getty Images Up to six Real Madrid players could receive imminent bans in the Champions League, as well as head coach Carlo Ancelotti. The defending champion of Europe’s elite club competition goes into a UCL playoffs first leg showdown against English giant Manchester City on Tuesday with an injury ravaged team. It means that the Italian only has one senior, natural defender on his back line which is Ferland Mendy. Elsewhere, knocks to David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger result in Ancelotti having to choose defensive pivot Aurelien Tchouameni and breakthrough rookie Raul Asencio as center backs while another midfielder in Fede Valverde is the right back because of the Madrid derby drawn 1-1 on Saturday sidelining Lucas Vazquez for two to three weeks. The rest of the starting line up looks pretty normal in midfield and attack, but while Rudiger and Alaba could make it back for the second leg at the Bernabeu on February 18, there might be further casualties of a disciplinary nature even if all the players manage to stay fit. As pointed out by SPORT, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Tchouameni - who are all expected to start in Manchester - are currently on two yellow cards each in the Champions League. That means if they pick up another, they’ll automatically miss the return leg in the Spanish capital which will give Ancelotti a further selection headache. Substitutes Endrick and Luka Modric are two more players in similar predicaments and will have to watch themselves if they come on at the Etihad. MORE FOR YOU Arizona Plane Crash: Here’s What We Know As Jets Collide At Scottsdale Airport WWE Raw Results, Winners And Grades On February 10, 2025 DOJ Asks Prosecutors To Dismiss Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams But so too is the manager himself, and Ancelotti will have to be on his best behaviour even if he doesn’t agree with the officials or he’ll have to watch the decider from the Bernabeu stands. If Rudiger does indeed return to full fitness and can play against City next week, he’ll have to be careful not to make his way into the referee’s book as well. He’s also received a pair of yellow cards in the UCL this term, and being cautioned once more - if he plays - would result in him having to miss the first leg of a potential last 16 clash against either crosstown La Liga title race foes Atletico Madrid or reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Tom Sanderson Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades