Explosive reaction to Real Madrid's 'nightmare' Champions League exit to Bayern Munich as Jude Bellingham gives one-word response to result

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The reaction to Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich has been fiery, among the club's players, manager and the Spanish media.

‘We feel really angry’ – Arbeloa in disbelief over ‘unfair’ Camavinga red card

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The lightning rod for this ill-feeling was referee Slavko Vincic, who sent off Eduardo Camavinga in the latter stages of the second half for a much-debated second yellow.

A number of incredulous Madrid players confronted Vincic at the time of the incident and again afterwards, as the denouement to a classic quarter-final was marred by chaotic scenes, with Arda Guler shown a red card by the referee after full-time.

"Joke, it's a joke," was all Jude Bellingham said - in Spanish - as he marched through the mixed zone in the bowels of the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday night.

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Camavinga, who only came on in the 62nd minute, had already been booked before he clumsily bundled into Kane, and then ran off holding the ball to delay the restart.

Referee Vincic noticed that infringement, before brandishing a second yellow, then a red.

Bayern's Harry Kane felt that justice had been done.

"Sloppy [second] yellow card from him," the England skipper said.

"You know as a player you can't pick the ball up and run away with it, when you're on a yellow card especially is a big risk, obviously the ref made a decision and [it was] nice to get one in our favour."

Arbeloa 'really upset, really angry' at 'unfair' Camavinga red

As far as the Madrid press was concerned, it was the other way around.

"What an injustice!" went Marca's front page.

The outlet continued: "The debatable sending-off of Camavinga crowned a refereeing nightmare that the team have suffered in the past month, and one that they consider decisive as they've said goodbye to La Liga and the Champions League."

AS reported that Real are not planning an official complaint to UEFA, believing that such actions "serve no purpose" and "only serve to muddy the waters".

Ironically, the appointment of Vincic to the clash had been seen as a potential good omen for Real Madrid, given the Slovenian also officiated their UCL final win over Borussia Dortmund in 2024.

Los Merengues boss Alvaro Arbeloa was candid with his ire at the dismissal when he spoke to TNT Sports afterwards.

”We scored three goals and we had the chances to score more goals but with the red card, everything was over," he said.

”It is really unbelievable that you send off a player for this action, I can’t believe that.

”It is not possible in a play like that, in a match like that, that you are sent off for this, and we feel really, really upset, really angry, really disappointed and I think all of this is a little bit unfair.”

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With Barcelona well ahead in the race for La Liga, and Madrid out of both the Copa del Rey and now the Champions League, it looks like being a silverware-less season for the club, having also ended last term without a major trophy.

Arbeloa came into the role mid-season to replace Xabi Alonso, who left in January, and there will now be a big inquest over the side's future.

Indeed, Marca has already commissioned its own wide-ranging survey, with 72% of voters - at the time of writing - believing Arbeloa should not continue in his role next season, and 44% answering that it is the club that is most responsible for the poor campaign.

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