Real Madrid will be without the services of Aurelien Tchouameni for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The France international entered Tuesday's contest at Bernabeu knowing that a booking would see him ruled out of the second leg of the last-eight affair in Manchester.
Tchouameni, who was featuring in central defence, picked up a yellow card inside the first minute for a late challenge on Jack Grealish, and Man City took the lead from the resulting free kick.
The 24-year-old's booking was his third in the Champions League this season, meaning that he will be suspended for the return match in England on April 17.
Tchouameni is primarily a defensive midfielder, but he has operated as a centre-back on multiple occasions this season due to the team's injury problems in that area of the field.
Militao or Nacho will replace Tchouameni in the second leg
Eder Militao is now back from a long-term knee injury, but he is still not ready to start, while David Alaba is out until next season due to a serious knee problem of his own.
Either Militao or Nacho will now come into the team alongside Antonio Rudiger for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final away to the reigning European champions.
"Nacho or Militao will play. The idea for the return has to be this. Don't do a lot of calculations, like last year, and play face to face, like today," Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti told reporters when questioned on Tchouameni's absence for the return fixture.
"We have confidence that something good can happen. The grass in Manchester is long, like here. We have a small disadvantage there, but the confidence remains the same."
Tchouameni has again been an important player for Real Madrid this season, making 33 appearances in all competitions, and he will be available for the team's La Liga match with Mallorca on Saturday.
Ancelotti hails "incredible match" with Man City
Real Madrid were 1-0 and 3-2 behind against Man City on Tuesday but managed to answer back on both occasions, with the first leg ultimately finishing 3-3 in Madrid.
Ancelotti said that it was "an incredible match" and praised his side for their "personality" and "courage" against Pep Guardiola's team.
"It was an incredible match. There has been a lot of quality and two extraordinary teams. We are satisfied with our match and we hope to repeat there. It was possible to win 2-1 and lose 2-3. It was a correct result for what both teams have done," he added.
"What I liked most is the personality, the courage, the pressure from above and making City an uncomfortable game until there was no strength. It was a good game on our part. Equal and competitive."
Real Madrid will now be bidding to strengthen their grip on first position in the La Liga table this weekend before heading to England with a view to securing a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League. body check tags ::
