After the VAR dispute, Real Madrid comes back to defeat Almeria 3-2. January 21, MADRID (Reuters) – In a wild La Liga match that was marred by VAR controversy, Real Madrid came back to win 3-2 at home against bottom-place Almeria on Sunday thanks to a goal from Dani Carvajal in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Ahead of Girona, who will visit Sevilla later on Sunday, Real moved up to the top of the La Liga standings with 51 points.
Largie Ramazani’s early score in the first minute and Edgar Gonzalez’s incredible long-range volley in the first half gave lowly Almeria, who had lost their first 21 LaLiga games, a two-goal advantage over Real Madrid, who failed to muster a single effort on goal. Barcelona vs. Betis: Dramatic 6 goals, Barcelona losing 4-2
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was clearly irritated, decided not to send his players back to the locker room before halftime and instead started the second half with three substitutions that gave his team more momentum.
Under intense pressure from Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid cut the lead in the 56th minute when Bellingham’s penalty, given for a questionable handball following a protracted VAR check, lowered the score.
After yet another extensive VAR investigation, Sergio Arribas’ attempt from Almeria’s counterattack was disqualified a little while later. 49ers supporters brave the wind and rain during the playoff matchup with the Packers.
The Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy was harshly found to have fouled Bellingham when he hit him in the face as he tried to regain his footing. Referee Francisco Maeso determined that there was an infringement in the build-up.
Five minutes later, Maeso awarded the goal after determining it was off the shoulder after another VAR review, having previously disqualified Real Madrid’s equalizer for a handball by Vinicius Jr. Almeria’s players and manager Asier Garitano was incensed at the decision.
In the build-up, Bellingham also had a goal disallowed for a contentious offside. Later, when Real Madrid made a late push, he came dangerously close to scoring with an incredible scissor kick that missed Almeria’s goal.
After a few close calls and manager Garitano’s red card for protesting to the referee, Bellingham performed magic inside a packed box to lift a cross to Carvajal, who tapped in the winner at the far post, nine minutes into added time.
Gonzalo Melero of Almeria told DAZN, “Today we were robbed.”
“There’s no other way to take it, as much as it hurts to say it. This year, that is not the first instance. It was astounding what transpired today; it was beyond comprehension. The high school coach of Deebo Samuel explains the superstar’s path to fame.
They were unable to win the game by doing anything more.
Carvajal, a defender for Real Madrid, disagreed.
“If Melero watches the plays calmly, he will surely realize that they are correctly refereed,” Carvajal stated to DAZN.
“At halftime, I told my teammates that anything could happen right up until the very last second, and it happened. We are grateful to our fans for lifting us to new heights.”