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Despite losing two points in their 2-2 draw against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium last weekend, league toppers Real Madrid maintained their lead at the top. However, Los Blancos received a major setback on Wednesday as La Liga suspended Real Madrid star midfielder Jude Bellingham for the next two matches following his red card against Valencia.
Real Madrid made a sensational comeback from two goals behind to salvage a point from their outing against Valencia. After the home side's Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuk's goals in the first 30 minutes, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. scored a brace to level the game.
England forward Jude Bellingham, who is currently the leading goal scorer in La Liga with 16 goals, found the back of the net just after the referee blew the full-time whistle. After scoring a potential winner for the record 35-time La Liga winners, Jude Bellingham ran towards the official insisting the goal should stand. However, Spanish official Gil Manzano said that Bellingham showed an "aggressive attitude" and was "shouting", and showed a red card.
According to La Liga rules, a player has to serve a one-match ban for a straight red card for a professional foul while it would be a two-match ban in other ways. Despite Real Madrid's appeal to overturn the 20-year-old English international's red card, the federation’s disciplinary committee dismissed the complaint. In their appeal, Los Blancos mentioned that referee Jesus Gil Manzano made an "error" by dismissing Bellingham.
In the end, Bellingham will serve a two-match La Liga ban that will force him to miss Real Madrid's upcoming La Liga fixtures against Celta Vigo and Osasuna on March 10 and 16, respectively.
