In a heated moment at half-time during Arsenal's victory at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal confronted Bukayo Saka as he walked down the tunnel. The incident followed Saka's missed penalty in the Champions League quarter-final, which was later redeemed with a goal in the second half. Despite the confrontation, Arsenal progressed to the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate victory.
The confrontation between Saka and Carvajal escalated as Carvajal grabbed Saka by the neck and attempted to engage with him, eventually leading to intervention by security and Arsenal officials. The incident stemmed from a previous encounter between the two players during the Euro 2024 final, where Carvajal had taunted Saka with a 'crying' gesture. Saka, however, remained composed and focused on contributing to Arsenal's success, expressing confidence in his abilities despite the penalty miss. Manager Mikel Arteta commended Saka's resilience and decision-making during the match, acknowledging the potential emotional impact of the penalty incident.