Mourinho’s first setback: three carry-over bans for Inter Champions League opener | OneFootball

José Mourinho faces his first setback at Real Madrid, with three carry-over suspensions ruling out Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Inter. Madrid are flying, top of La Liga with 10 goals in three wins, and visit Betis at the Villamarín on Saturday.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the trio were sent off in their clubs’ final matches last season, so the bans roll into this campaign and even follow players who change team, as in Bernardo Silva’s case after leaving Manchester City.

UEFA regulations set this out. Article 63.01 imposes a minimum one match suspension after a red card in the next UEFA club competition, 63.05 wipes yellow cards but keeps reds valid, and 70.01 applies the ban automatically without further notice.

That means Mourinho cannot use Arda Guler or Bernardo Silva, influential in his early blueprint, and it may explain why both were benched against Málaga, when Federico Valverde started alongside Camavinga.

Aurelien Tchouameni, rested against Málaga after a heavy World Cup workload, could partner Valverde in a double pivot.

That pairing would draw attention after an end-of-season altercation that escalated into a dressing-room fight, leaving Valverde in hospital with a cut to the head. It would be their first time starting together since Mourinho took charge. Less likely options include repurposing Brahim as a creator or using Trent Alexander-Arnold in the double pivot, which seems improbable given Mourinho’s aversion to experiments.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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