UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal over his yellow card for timewasting against Apoel Nicosia, meaning he could be banned for the round-of-16 first leg in February.

Carvajal was booked by referee Artur Dias for taking too long over a 90th-minute throw in the 6-0 win, bringing an automatic one-match ban that could be served in a group game at home to Borussia Dortmund on Dec. 6.

That would mean the Spain international right-back being free of suspension when the knockout phase starts.

But UEFA confirmed that Carvajal has been charged with breaching Article 15 of its Disciplinary Regulations by "receiving a yellow card on purpose" -- an offence that carries a two-game ban.

Madrid have run into trouble over alleged deliberate yellow cards in the past, with Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and coach Jose Mourinho punished in the 2010-11 group stages.

All three escaped any further sanction after another incident late in the quarterfinal first leg win over Galatasaray in 2012-13.

Also on Tuesday, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne was booked late in the 1-0 Group F win over Feyenoord, meaning he misses the final fixture at Shakhtar Donetsk with a top seeding already secured.