Arsenal get red card verdict for 'reckless' David Alaba tackle on Bukayo Saka vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender David Alaba's challenge on star Bukayo Saka has been labelled 'reckless' after the left-back escaped an early red card in Wednesday night's Champions League quarter-final second-leg.

Inside the first 10 minutes of the second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, . After Vinicius Junior's ball across goal was cleared, Saka looked to launch a counter-attack down the right.

However, Alaba, playing left-back, came flying in with a sliding challenge that left Saka on the ground. The Austrian was booked by François Letexier but the challenge was criticised by Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand.

"That was reckless over there, it is a yellow card straightaway," Darren Fletcher said. "That was... wow look at that." McCoist added: "I was actually going to try and cut him a bit of slack to see if he had slipped and lost his footing, but I don't think he has."

"That was the 'get him early' reducer," Ferdinand added. "The old school reducer." McCost then called the challenge a "1960s, 1970s challenge."

VAR, which didn't get involved with Alaba's challenge on Saka, was called upon not long later when Arsenal were awarded a penalty. Raul Asencio was penalised for a foul on Mikel Merino inside the box after Letexier initially didn't give a spot-kick.

Bukayo Saka failed to convert from 12 yards with Thibaut Courtois pulling off a smart save to keep Madrid in the tie. Madrid were then rewarded a penalty themselves when Declan Rice pulled Kylian Mbappe down inside the box.

However, after a lengthy VAR check, the decision was overturned.