Just after winning the derby, Real Madrid immediately suffers a heavy blow in La Liga

Despite securing a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid received shocking news as their key midfielder Fede Valverde faces a two-match suspension following a direct red card.

The Madrid Derby at the Santiago Bernabeu provided a thrilling, high-scoring chase, showcasing Real Madrid's resilience. However, the joy of victory for coach Alvaro Arbeloa and his team was incomplete when the "engine" Fede Valverde was sent off in the 77th minute, leaving a significant gap for the royal club in the fierce La Liga race.

The tragedy unfolded during a tense phase of the match. Valverde—who had earlier scored a crucial goal—committed a forceful challenge from behind on Alex Baena. While Real Madrid's coaching staff expected only a yellow card, referee Munuera Montero stunned everyone by issuing a direct red.

Seeing the outrage from the sidelines, referee Munuera had to approach to calm coach Arbeloa. The official gave a firm explanation for his decision: “He was not aiming for the ball, only targeting the player”. In the post-match report, he emphasized that the foul occurred at "an unfavorable distance" and involved excessive force.

This incident immediately became the focal point of the commentary program "Tiempo de Juego". Referee expert Pedro Martín stated that the dismissal was justified because: "You risk being judged by the referee for using excessive force and being expelled from the pitch". He asserted that the Real Madrid player "had no intention of playing the ball" but executed a very strong kick from behind.

In contrast, coach Arbeloa defended his player, stating: "It's baffling... I believe upon reviewing the footage, he might change his mind". Many opinions suggest that personal animosity between Valverde and Baena from last season may have influenced the referee's view of the foul's intent.

With this direct red card, Valverde is almost certain to miss the next two matches against Mallorca and Girona. This is a massive loss for Real Madrid as they are in a tight chase against Barcelona, trailing by 4 points on the league table La Liga.

Without the boundless energy of the Uruguayan midfielder, coach Arbeloa will have to grapple with finding midfield solutions to maintain momentum after the Derby. Although the final 15 minutes against Atletico, playing with a man down, demonstrated the grit and unity of Los Blancos, losing an "irreplaceable" element like Valverde for the next two rounds will be a true test for their title-defense ambitions.