Tensions reportedly boiled over in Real Madrid training ahead of crunch clash.
Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rudiger reportedly had to be separated after a clash in training, as Real Madrid prepare for the biggest match of their season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side host Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday night and they have a mountain to climb if they are to keep their hopes of defending their European crown alive.
Arsenal won 3-0 in north London last week as Declan Rice scored two stunning free-kicks and Mikel Merino added a third, a result that will test even the trademark comeback abilities of Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants prepared for their showdown with the Gunners by beating Alaves 1-0 over the weekend, despite Kylian Mbappe being sent-off for a dreadful challenge in the first-half.
Ahead of that La Liga match, reports in Spain suggest that there was a heated confrontation in training between Bellingham and Rudiger, forcing their team-mates to step in.
According to El Chiringuito, Rudiger put in a bad tackle on Bellingham and the Englishman responded angrily, with the small-sided game halted as the pair were pulled apart.
It was not believed to be a serious incident, though, and both are expected to be in the starting lineup at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Speaking after the first leg, Bellingham admitted that Real Madrid were deservedly beaten but insisted a “crazy” turnaround was still possible.
"We were nowhere near it," the midfielder said. "That’s the fact and Arsenal were really good."
"I know two of their goals were free-kicks, but they could have had way more."
"There is a second leg, and that’s what we’re holding on to. We need something really special, something crazy really but one place where crazy things happen is our house."
"We’ve got 90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag. We’re still alive, we’ve got 90 mins of football and anything can happen at the Bernabeu."