Alan Shearer believes Jude Bellingham was lucky to avoid a yellow card during Arsenal’s dominant victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti faces a selection dilemma for the return leg in Spain, as Bellingham’s midfield partner, Eduardo Camavinga, is now suspended.
The match remained goalless at halftime before bursting into life thanks to two flawless free-kicks from Declan Rice. The Arsenal star stepped up to curl the ball past Thibaut Courtois twice, securing a crucial advantage for his team.
During one key moment, Arsenal’s captain launched a counterattack from his own penalty area. Bellingham initially grabbed him from behind with both hands on his shoulders, and when that failed, he attempted the same move again.
“That should be a yellow card, shouldn’t it? Two swipes at it. There’s the first one, there’s the second one,” Shearer remarked while commentating for Amazon Prime at the Emirates Stadium.
Even if Bellingham had been booked, he wasn’t among Real Madrid’s six players at risk of suspension for the second leg. Camavinga, however, was on that list and confirmed his absence in the 70th minute when he received a booking. His night worsened further when he kicked the ball away, earning a second yellow and a sending-off.
Shearer criticized Camavinga’s actions, saying, “How stupid is that? Ridiculous, kicking the ball away like that. I get that you’ve had a tough second half, but that just sums up Real Madrid tonight.”
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