Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-2 victory against Almería has left the latter team crying foul, accusing the officials of robbing them of a well-deserved win. LaLiga’s bottom club, Almería, were leading 2-0 at halftime, shocking fans and experts alike. However, in the second half, Real Madrid mounted a comeback, scoring three goals, including a dramatic 99th-minute winner. The turning point of the match revolved around three key moments that triggered controversy. Referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso, after reviewing the incidents on the pitch-side monitor, made crucial decisions, awarding Real Madrid a penalty, disallowing an Almería goal, and allowing a Vinicius Junior goal, despite it being converted with his upper arm. This has sparked a heated debate over the fairness of these calls.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stood firmly behind the referee’s decisions, dismissing Almería’s claims of injustice. Postgame, Ancelotti stated, “I understand Almería’s anger with the decisions, but I think they were all correct. I have seen them back. I think the referee gets them right. It’s not VAR making the decisions. VAR advises, and the referee decides. I think he was right.” Despite facing backlash for his stance, Ancelotti remained steadfast in his belief that the referee acted within his jurisdiction.
Almería players and officials voiced their frustration and disappointment in the aftermath of the match. Largie Ramazani opened the scoring for Almería within the first minute, followed by Edgar González doubling their lead in the 43rd minute. However, their advantage was short-lived as Real Madrid turned the tables in the second half. Sergio Arribas had a goal disallowed due to a foul in the build-up, and Vinícius controversially equalized with his upper arm. In the face of this perceived injustice, Almería’s players expressed their disappointment and sense of being “robbed.” González stated, “The [Madrid penalty] is a clear foul, and I think the second is handball. All the decisions went in their favor.” Defender Marc Pubill went a step further, suggesting that someone influenced the outcome, saying, “somebody decided we couldn’t win and that’s what happened.” Midfielder Gonzalo Melero echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the team felt blatantly robbed and adding, “It was incredible. If you don’t complain, they don’t help you, that’s how it is.”
While Ancelotti defended the referee’s decisions, he did acknowledge Real Madrid’s underwhelming performance in the first half. The coach attributed their lack of energy and overall poor performance to fatigue, as the team had recently endured a challenging run of games. After a grueling Copa del Rey match against Atlético Madrid, which ended in extra time and resulted in their elimination, Real Madrid faced Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final, triumphing with a 4-1 victory. Following this, they played another extra-time encounter against Atlético, winning 5-3. Ancelotti admitted that he erred in selecting tired players for the match, stating, “I made a mistake with the team by picking tired players. By the 30th minute, I was already thinking of changes to get more energy. All I could do to change the dynamic was bring on fresh legs at halftime.”
With this controversial victory, Real Madrid now stands at the top of the LaLiga table with 51 points from 20 games. However, Almería remains rooted at the bottom, still chasing their first league win this season with only six points to their name. The clash between these two clubs has sparked debate and discussions surrounding the fairness and integrity of the game.
The clash between Real Madrid and Almería showcased the volatility and contentious nature of football. The referee’s decisions ignited a firestorm of controversy, with Almería feeling hard done by and Real Madrid riding the wave of victory. This match serves as a reminder of the intense emotions that arise from questionable calls and the immense pressure faced by referees. Ultimately, the aftermath of this clash will continue to fuel passionate discussions among fans, players, and pundits alike.