Real Madrid will begin their 2026/27 Champions League campaign on September 8 against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu, but José Mourinho will already have to deal with three confirmed absences.
The Portuguese coach faces an early selection headache ahead of Madrid’s return to European competition. Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva will all be unavailable for the opening fixture because they must serve suspensions carried over from last season’s Champions League.
UEFA regulations stipulate that accumulated yellow cards are wiped out between seasons. However, suspensions resulting from red cards or dismissals are not automatically cancelled. As a result, all three Real Madrid players will have to serve their respective bans when Inter Milan visit the Bernabéu.
For Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga, the suspensions date back to Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich last season.
Both players were sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
In Güler’s case, the second booking came after the final whistle. The Turkish international was punished for protesting against the referee following the match. Real Madrid initially feared that UEFA could impose a heavier sanction due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, but the midfielder was eventually handed only a one-match suspension.
That means he will be available again immediately after the Inter Milan fixture.
Camavinga’s dismissal came during the closing stages of the same match. The French midfielder received his second yellow card late in the game as Real Madrid suffered a defeat that ultimately ended their Champions League campaign.
Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, received his suspension while he was still a Manchester City player.
Ironically, his red card also came against Real Madrid.
🚨 Les AMÉLIORATIONS du Real Madrid sous José Mourinho :
— RMadrid actu 🇫🇷 (@RMadrid_actu) August 31, 2026
• L'équipe n'a PAS encore eu besoin des arrêts miraculeux de Courtois. ✅
• Jude Bellingham est REVENU à son MEILLEUR niveau. ✅
• L''attitude et l'intensité de l'équipe ont changé POSITIVEMENT. ✅
• Jose Mourinho a… pic.twitter.com/4Z1t0D1TMu
The Portuguese midfielder was dismissed during the second leg of Manchester City’s Champions League round-of-16 clash with the Spanish giants. Bernardo deliberately handled the ball to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity and was shown a straight red card.
The referee also awarded Real Madrid a penalty, which Vinicius Junior converted.
Although Bernardo has since joined Real Madrid, the suspension remains attached to the player rather than the club. He will therefore have to serve the ban in his first Champions League match as a Madrid player.
Mourinho will consequently be without three important midfield options for what promises to be a demanding European opener against Inter Milan.
The absences of Güler, Camavinga and Bernardo Silva could force the Real Madrid coach to reshape his midfield and give opportunities to other members of the squad.
Real Madrid will nevertheless be determined to begin their Champions League campaign with a victory in front of their supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu.
With Inter Milan providing a difficult first test, Mourinho’s tactical choices will be closely watched as Madrid begin another attempt to conquer Europe’s biggest club competition.
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