Real Madrid will be without forward Rodrygo for both legs of their Champions League knockout tie against Benfica after the Brazilian received a two-match suspension for referee abuse. According to The Athletic, the ban rules him out of the entire quarter-final.
The club will also be missing star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is sidelined with an injury and not expected to return until late March.
The suspension stems from a red card shown during a recent league defeat to the same opponent. Rodrygo has since issued a public apology for his actions.
“Yesterday, I got carried away in the heat of the moment when complaining about time wasting. That’s not how I usually behave,” Rodrygo said. “I had never been sent off playing for Real Madrid and I am aware of the consequences. I apologise to the fans, the club, my teammates and the coach.”
That sending-off occurred in a costly 4-2 league loss to Benfica, a result that prevented Real Madrid from securing a top-eight finish and direct qualification to the Champions League round of 16. His absence for the European tie now compounds that earlier setback.
The first leg is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, in Lisbon, with the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, February 25.
With both Rodrygo suspended and Bellingham injured, Real Madrid faces a significant challenge to advance, relying on squad depth to overcome the Portuguese side.