Eduardo Camavinga has publicly addressed his costly red card during Real Madrid’s crushing 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Eduardo Camavinga breaks silence on Arsenal meltdown, takes blame for red card
The French midfielder was sent off in stoppage time at the Emirates Stadium after a moment of frustration saw him kick the ball away, resulting in a second yellow card — and an automatic suspension for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid, the defending European champions, were stunned in north London, where two stunning free-kicks from Declan Rice and a composed finish from Gabriel Jesus gave the Gunners a dominant advantage heading into the return leg.
With the tie now hanging by a thread, Camavinga’s absence adds further pressure to a side already facing a monumental challenge.
Taking to social media after the match, Camavinga didn’t shy away from responsibility.
“To all the Madridistas, my frustration got the better of me at the end of the game and for this I want to apologise,” he wrote.
“We must continue to believe, and we’ll need you in the second leg. All together. Hasta el final! Hala Madrid!”
Despite the setback, belief within the Madrid camp remains strong.
Jude Bellingham, who has already lifted European silverware in his debut season with the Spanish giants, voiced confidence in the team’s ability to stage a comeback at home.
“There is a second leg, and that’s what we’re holding on to,” Bellingham told Amazon Prime.
“We need something really special, something crazy really — but one place where crazy things happen is our house. Ninety more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.
”With Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo in the ranks, Real Madrid certainly have the firepower.
But Camavinga’s absence will be felt in the midfield battle as they look to script another famous European comeback at the Bernabéu.
