Controversial VAR decisions mar Real Madrid’s dramatic win over Almeria

Real Madrid scraped a controversial 3-2 win over Almeria in a result that left several stars from La Liga’s bottom team furious.

Madrid’s victory over winless Almeria, which took them temporarily top before Girona played, was steeped in drama and controversy.

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Dani Carvajal rammed home the winner in the 99th minute to settle a wild and hugely entertaining clash at the Santiago Bernabeu where Madrid had trailed 2-0.

Almeria took a two-goal lead through Largie Ramazani’s 38th minute strike and a screamer from Edgar Gonzalez.

Madrid battled back to triumph as Jude Bellingham converted a penalty and Vinicius Junior used his upper arm to divert home an equaliser, before Carvajal’s last-gasp winner.

Madrid had three key VAR adjudications go in their favour, including Vinicius’ goal which Almeria considered handball, a goal of their own ruled out and a penalty given to Madrid.

“(We leave) with the feeling we’ve been robbed,” complained Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero.

“The penalty, the goal with the hand, the gesture, the goal disallowed for a struggle.

“If we want to be the best league in the world, as is being said a lot… we are light years away. And it’s hard for me to say it, and it p***** me off, but it’s just that there’s no way to take it.”

Almeria defender Marc Pubill echoed his teammates’ sentiment.

“I think that someone decided that we weren’t allowed to win here at Bernabéu today, and that’s what happened,” Pubill told DAZN.

“Nothing more to say.”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti disagreed.

Almeria were on the wrong side of contentious VAR decisions. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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“I understand Almeria’s anger with the VAR decisions, but I think they were well judged,” Ancelotti told reporters.

Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup last Sunday by thrashing Barcelona in Saudi Arabia and then lost 4-2 against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

“It was a tired team,” explained Ancelotti, who said the first-half display was one to forget.

Madrid came roaring back after that, with Bellingham at the heart of it, La Liga’s joint top scorer with Dovbyk firing home from the spot for his 14th goal of the campaign.

After Vinicius nudged in to level, Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside and sent a superb overhead kick narrowly wide.

The England international helped create the winner by nodding the ball to the back post for Carvajal to smash home and spark jubilant celebrations after another epic Madrid comeback.

Barcelona, third, let a two-goal lead slip against Betis but recovered to stay in the title race.

Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti didn’t feel there were any controversial VAR decisions. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)Source: AFP

Torres scored twice to put Barca two ahead but they surrendered their lead as former Real Madrid playmaker Isco struck a brace of his own.

Joao Felix finished deftly in the 90th minute and Torres netted again to secure victory for the Catalans, who trail neighbours Girona by eight points.

Barcelona handed young defender Pau Cubarsi his first start and with Lamine Yamal also in the team, lined up with two 16-year-olds.

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was pleased with their performances but also chose to express his concern at the refereeing in Madrid’s win.

“If we talk they will suspend us, but everybody has seen it,” said Xavi. “I already said … there were things that didn’t fit right with me in this league.

“There are things that we can’t control and everyone has seen that.”

2024-01-22 00:33:04
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