Eduardo Camavinga picked up the ball and jogged away from a Bayern Munich free kick in the 86th minute, a momentary lapse that effectively ended Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign. The Frenchman had already been booked in the 78th minute for pulling Jamal Musiala’s shirt, but he seemed unaware of his status until referee Slavko Vinčić brandished a second yellow card for time wasting.
Real Madrid fell 4-3 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate, exiting the quarterfinals in Munich. Madrid had held a 3-2 lead in the second leg—and a 4-4 aggregate tie—heading toward extra time before the dismissal. Bayern capitalized on the man advantage almost immediately, with Luis Díaz scoring three minutes after the red card and Michael Olise netting the final goal of the match.
Eduardo Camavinga’s second yellow card ended Madrid’s comeback
Coach Álvaro Arbeloa described the decision to send off Camavinga as “incredible” and “unfair.” He argued that the referee ruined a high-level match by penalizing an action that didn’t warrant a dismissal. Arbeloa claimed Vinčić may not have even realized Camavinga was already on a yellow card until Bayern players pointed it out.
Midfielder Jude Bellingham called the red card “a joke,” while defender Antonio Rüdiger expressed his frustration by stating it was better not to speak. The chaos extended to the final whistle, where Arda Güler—who had scored twice during the match—was sent off for remonstrating with the officials.
Bayern’s Luis Díaz disagreed with the Madrid camp, telling El Chiringuito TV that the referee was right to send the Frenchman off because Camavinga refused to release the ball when Bayern wanted to take their free kick quickly.
For more on this story, see Bayern Munich eliminates Real Madrid from Champions League with 4-3 victory.
Why Spanish analysts call the referee’s action an abuse of power
Marca’s radio analysts argued that the punishment was disproportionate. Referee analyst Alfonso Pérez Burrull noted that Camavinga held the ball for only three seconds, suggesting that the referee’s failure to weigh the impact of the action on the game “tends toward abuse of power.”
Diario AS took a harsher view of the professionalism on display, claiming neither the referee nor Camavinga acted professionally. The publication suggested the decision was capricious, noting that Vinčić happens to be from the same country as UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.
SPORT offered a different perspective, suggesting that Camavinga’s body language showed he simply forgot he was already booked. The outlet argued that Real Madrid has a recurring habit of using referees as scapegoats to mask a season of poor performance, a practice common among Europe’s biggest clubs.
The club’s lack of silverware puts pressure on Álvaro Arbeloa
This elimination leaves Real Madrid facing a second consecutive season without a trophy. The club is already out of the Copa del Rey and trails Barcelona by nine points in La Liga, making a domestic title unlikely.
Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January, faces an uncertain future at Valdebebas. While he stated he is “a man of the club” and will abide by their decision, the Spanish media views the season as a disaster. Real hasn’t won a title since December 2024, a stark contrast to the decade where they dominated the European landscape.
For a team that has spent seventy years instilling fear across Europe, the current collapse is an anomaly. Diario AS noted that while Madrid showed flashes of their old self in Munich—leading three times during the match—they can no longer rely on “miracles” to salvage a failing project.
Who will Bayern Munich play in the semifinals?
Bayern Munich will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals.
What is the current status of Álvaro Arbeloa’s job?
Arbeloa’s future is currently undecided. He has stated that any decision regarding his position rests with the club.
Why was Arda Güler sent off?
Güler was dismissed at the final whistle for remonstrating with the match officials.