Real Madrid land Bernabeu stadium warning and fine over Man City Champions League game

Real Madrid have been fined 30,000 euros and given a suspended partial stadium closure for discriminatory behaviour by fans during the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Manchester City.

Competition organisers Uefa have applied the punishment of around £25,000 and ordered a section of at least 500 seats at the Santiago Bernabeu to be closed, with the latter sanction suspended for a trial period of two years if a similar offence does not occur during that period.

The charge relates to homophobic chants directed at City manager Pep Guardiola, according to BBC Sport.

The reigning Spanish champions beat their English counterparts 3-1 on February 19 to complete a 6-3 aggregate win and reach the round of 16.

LaLiga table: Madrid in enthralling title race

Madrid are second in LaLiga on goal difference before this weekend’s matches, with Barcelona ahead of them after 25 league games.

Atletico Madrid have the meanest defensive record but are a point behind the leaders in what has been a thrilling season so far at the top of the table in Spain.

Los Blancos are on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions ahead of their trip to seventh-placed Real Betis on Saturday (5.30pm GMT).

Atleti host fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao at 8pm on the same day, with Barcelona hosting ninth-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday (3.15pm).

Champions League: Madrid vs Atleti

Champions League holders Madrid host Atleti in the first leg of last 16 of Europe’s elite competitition on Tuesday (8pm).

They are then at home to Rayo Vallecano five days later (3.15pm) before the return leg of the knockout tie on March 12 (8pm).

Atleti held Carlo Ancelotti’s team to a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on February 8, repeating the scoreline when the rivals met on September 29.

Madrid reached the play-offs for the last 16 by winning five and losing three of their league phase games. Atleti went through automatically, winning six times and losing twice.