Real Madrid denied three penalties in controversial Rayo Vallecano draw | OneFootball

Real Madrid left Vallecas feeling aggrieved after a frustrating 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

The disappointing result set Real Madrid back in the race for the league title, although the contest remains tight as ever.

The Whites were left bewildered by a series of questionable refereeing decisions that left them feeling hard done by.

Refereeing mistakes at the forefront

Real Madrid were upset with referee Martinez Munuera as there were at least three incidents that could have ended differently.

The most glaring incidents involved Rodrygo and Arda Guler. Both players were clearly brought down inside the penalty area, but referee Munuera and VAR official Gonzalez Fuertes failed to award a penalty on either occasion.

Replays clearly showed the fouls, leaving Real Madrid fans and players alike scratching their heads.

Real Madrid were not happy with the match officials. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The constant physicality from Rayo Vallecano players also went unchecked. The home side seemed to have a free pass to disrupt Real Madrid’s attacks with aggressive challenges that often went unpunished.

The Vinicius incident

This allowed Rayo to gain a foothold in the game and frustrate the visitors. The team’s frustration was further compounded by the inexplicable failure to award a penalty on Vinicius Jr., who was clearly fouled inside the box.

All these incidents left Real Madrid extremely disappointed and the club were made to question the standards of refereeing in La Liga.

Given how tight the title race is shaping up to be, Real Madrid could have certainly used the right refereeing calls to not only win against Vallecano, but also gain the upper hand over Barcelona in the standings.