Carvajal sent off for head-butting Marseille goalkeeper in Real Madrid win in Champions League
Marseille's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, bottom, gestures in pain after clashing with Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, center, during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Marseille at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez
MADRID — Veteran Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal was sent off after head-butting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli in a Champions League match Tuesday.
Carvajal and Rulli were exchanging words in the area before a corner kick for Madrid when the defender moved closer to the goalkeeper and struck his face with his head.
The referee apparently didn't see Carvajal's action but Marseille players immediately complained. Video review eventually notified the referee and he showed Carvajal the red card in the 72nd minute after watching the play by the sideline.
Carvajal, the Madrid captain at the time, had entered the match in the fifth minute to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The game was tied 1-1 at the time of the incident. Madrid won 2-1 with a pair of penalty kick goals by Kylian Mbappé.
More soccer news
