35-time Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid are desperate to return to the top of the Spanish top-flight football this season, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side were “Helped” by VAR controversies in their return to the top spot of the Spanish La Liga side by beating bottom-placed UD Almería at home. The team in famous white jerseys were down by 2-0 in the first half at Santiago Bernabéu, but a series of events that were clouded with VAR controversies saw the 14-time European club football champions went on to secure a come-from-behind victory before their home fans.
Were Real Madrid Benefited From VAR Controversies in Their 3-2 Comeback Win?
A victory in this match would send Real Madrid to the provisional first place of the Spanish top-flight football, since the-then leaders Girona FC were playing after the league encounter at Santiago Bernabéu. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti’s side seemed to be deflated by their devastating loss to Atlético in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 last midweek and fell to a 2-0 deficit after the opening 45 minutes, thanks to efforts from Largie Ramazani as early as the first few seconds of the game and Edgar González’s 43rd-minute goal.
The following half was occupied with VAR controversies, when Kaiky Fernandes from UD Almería was accused to have handled the ball inside the penalty box. The referee eventually awarded a penalty to the home team, where new summer signing Jude Bellingham converted his 18th goal in 26 appearances for Los Blancos in 2023/2024. Then, more VAR controversies were produced in Real’s equaliser, after Vinícius Júnior seemingly put down the culprit of the spot kick Fernandes. The initial no-goal decision was reversed, allowing the Brazilian to level things up with a header during the play that was filled with VAR controversies.
Real’s winner in the 90+9th minute from Dani Carvajal capped off the match that was dominated by VAR controversies. The 32-year-old Spanish defender was there when Bellingham headed a pass into the deeper area of the penalty box, before Carvajal put the ball behind the net at the far post. He was booked for taking his shirt off during the celebration, but nothing else could prevent Real from winning the game to go above Girona FC with 51 points out of a possible 60.
Click here for the full match details of the Girona FC-Sevilla FC clash that happened after the Real Madrid game.
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Ancelotti’s Verdict on the VAR Controversies: “Three Quite Clear Decisions.”
Ancelotti made his feelings known about the come-from-behind victory by Real at home: “It was a strange game. We played very poorly in the first half, with little energy. The evaluation I made was wrong, a tired team played and we did very poorly. Then the character of the team in our stadium made us come back from a difficult game with a totally different second half.”
The 64-year-old Ancelotti went on to justify claims that his team only won the league encounter due to several VAR controversies. “I understand the complaint of the Almería. They were revised decisions by the VAR. I think that they have been three quite clear decisions. I have seen the actions. The referee hits. The VAR calls him and think that taking the correct decisions. I am ready, I do not have problem (To answer others’ claims of VAR controversies that led to Real’s victory),” said the Italian.
After the VAR controversies-dominated match, Ancelotti’s Real Madrid will be hosted by UD Las Palmas at Gran Canaria on Matchday 21 of the 2023/2024 Spanish La Liga Season. Subscribe to AsiaSport.com if you wish to catch the game or any other football matches live independent of your whereabouts!
