Real Madrid will be without three midfielders for UEFA Champions League opener vs Inter Milan | OneFootball

Real Madrid will begin their Champions League campaign on September 8 against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Having failed to go beyond the quarter-final stages last season, the Merengues will be hoping to buck that trend and make it all the way this time around.

However, having been handed a tricky league-phase tie, the Spanish capital club will have a series of challenges ahead of them, starting with the game against Inter.

And, Jose Mourinho will have several players unavailable through injury, but the European opener will also be affected by suspensions carried over from last season.

Three players suspended

Indeed, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva are all suspended after being sent off in their final Champions League appearances of the previous campaign.

UEFA carries over red-card suspensions from one season to the next, even though yellow cards are wiped, meaning Mourinho currently cannot count on any of the three unless an exceptional pardon is granted.

Güler and Camavinga saw red against Bayern

Camavinga was sent off vs Bayern Munich. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Guler and Camavinga were both sent off for two yellow cards in Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Guler’s second booking came after the final whistle for his complaints to the referee. There had initially been concern that the Turkish midfielder could receive a longer suspension, but UEFA ultimately handed him a one-match ban, the same punishment given to Camavinga.

The French midfielder received his second yellow card during the closing stages of a match that ended with Real Madrid’s elimination after a 4-3 defeat.

Bernardo Silva’s suspension came against Madrid

Bernardo Silva was sent off while playing for Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16, ironically against Real Madrid.

Bernardo is also suspended. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Portuguese midfielder was shown a straight red card after deliberately preventing a goal with his hand.

The incident resulted in a penalty, which Vinicius Jr. converted, while the veteran midfielder received the suspension that he now carries into the new European campaign.

Unless UEFA intervenes, Mourinho will therefore have to begin his Champions League campaign without three important midfielders when Inter visit the Santiago Bernabeu.

So, it will be interesting to see who will partner with Federico Valverde in midfield on the night, considering that Aurelien Tchouameni is also still not fully fit, having returned from the World Cup with a niggle.