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The position for the title of Real Madrid received great success on Saturday night, since they suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat against Espanyol threatened with descent, losing a golden opportunity to clarify four points on the top of LaLiga.
An 85 -minute winner of Carlos Romero sealed a historic victory for the hosts, who absorbed a wave after Madrid pressure wave before hitting the counterattack.
However, the true controversy of the night came before: the winner of the game, the winner of the game, had somehow escaped a red card for a brutal Tackle about Kylian MbappΓ©, a decision that left Carlo Ancelotti furious.
Var controversy: “inexplicable” decision costs Madrid?
The challenge of the 61 minutes of Romero in MbappΓ© was high, behind, and reckless, stopping a dangerous counterattack of Madrid.
The referee Alejandro MuΓ±iz Ruiz branded only a yellow card, a decision not revoked by VAR.
Carlo Ancelotti. (Photo by Maria Gracia JimΓ©nez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Ancelotti was baffled, calling the “inexplicable” decision:
“The decision made by the referee and the VAR is inexplicable,” Ancelotti told a press conference after the party.
βThey all saw it. The most important thing is to protect the player. It is a clear fault, a very ugly challenge. “
βFortunately, nothing happened in terms of an injury, but the VAR is there for that. It is inexplicable for us who has not shown a red card. “
Adding fuel to the frustrations of Madrid, the objective of the first half of JΓΊnior VinΓcius was rejected controversial after the referee ruled that MbappΓ© had committed a fault in accumulation.
Romero speaks: “I did what I could”
The winner of the party admitted the approximate nature of the challenge, but insisted that there was no malice:
“I knew it is impossible to stop [MbappΓ©] in the race “.
βI did what I could to stop. The challenge was a bit ugly, I didn’t like it, and I apologized. “
“It was a difficult challenge, but it was destined to stop the counterattack, not hurt the opponent,” GonzΓ‘lez concluded.
The lost possibilities of Madrid and the defensive nightmare
Despite dominating possession and registering 20 shots in the goal, Real Madrid could not find the network.
Rodrygo approached more, hitting the post in the second half.
Joan GarcΓa, the Espanyol goalkeeper, produced seven impressive salvages, including a brilliant stop of MbappΓ©’s rice effort.
Thibaut Courtois even reached a late corner, but Madrid could not break Espanyol’s defense.
Madrid’s injury crisis deepens before crucial accessories
To make things worse, Antonio RΓΌdiger limited in the 15th minute with an alleged lesion in the hamstrings, which adds to the defensive crisis of Madrid.
Dani Carvajal and Γder MilitΓ£o have already lost, and with David he praises just returning, Madrid now faces:
LeganΓ©s in the Copa del Rey (quarterfinals)
AtlΓ©tico Madrid in a crucial derby next Saturday
Manchester City at the Playoffs Round of the Champions League on February 11
With the closure of the January transfer window on Monday, Ancelotti hinted possible signings:
βRΓΌdiger has a muscle injury. We will have to evaluate it, but we have talked about [reinforcements]. We have thought about it and we know what we have to do. “
The race for the title of LaLiga is heated! AtlΓ©tico large loom
With AtlΓ©tico de Madrid winning 2-0 against Mallorca, Diego Simeone’s team is now only one point behind Real Madrid before Derby Madrid next week.
This surprise defeats leaves LaLiga from par, and with Manchester City that is coming in Europe, Madrid must regroup quickly. Will the men of Ancelotti recover, or is it the beginning of an expensive fall?