The VAR snatches the lead from a Real Madrid at war with the CTA | OneFootball

LaLiga EA Sports returned to the Estadio El Sadar. A stadium dressed up to welcome Real Madrid, the current leaders of the competition, in what was expected to be an exciting match before kick-off, as is always the case when the white team visits the red fiefdom. And this time was no different.

The atmosphere was indicative of what was at stake for both teams on this Saturday afternoon. Two teams with very different goals, but both in need of points. In the case of Real Madrid, after two successive defeats, taking all three points from El Sadar was imperative if they were to avoid letting Atleti take the lead. In the case of Osasuna, after only one win in their last five games, they needed a win to keep in touch with the European places.

Real Madrid dominate in a controversial first half

A match that began with Real Madrid very much in the game from the first minute. In the Whites’ first attack, Vinicius claimed a penalty for a handball by Catena after the red and white defender intercepted the ball with his arm. However, the referee ruled that the action was not punishable under the rules because the hand was on the ground.

Less than a minute had elapsed when Kylian Mbappé broke down the left with his usual power. When it looked as if the Frenchman had run out of space, he unleashed a precise shot from the edge of the penalty area towards the far post, but Vinicius was unable to get a good grip on the ball, leaving him virtually alone with the ball.

However, as seems to be the case in every game the Whites play, the controversy did not go unnoticed. In fact, after the handball, Vinicius was brought down in the area by Moncayola in a move similar to the one that earned Ceballos a penalty against City. Once again, however, the referee saw nothing to penalize, despite the Brazilian’s obvious protests.

Mbappé tried again from the left, but this time Vini let the ball go, leaving the Frenchman alone. Mbappé was now facing a bit of an angle and his shot was well saved by Sergio Herrera. The only thing that was certain was that the Whites were clearly dominating the game and wanted to get the first goal of the game as soon as possible.

Such was the intent of the Whites that it seemed obvious that the first goal would come from one of them. And so it was. A clearance by Bellingham in the visitors’ half left Fede Valverde unmarked as he moved in as a full-back on the right. A move that saw him deliver a precise low cross that found Mbappé on the edge of the six-yard box, this time leaving Sergio Herrera with no option but to save the opener.

However, Osasuna were not about to give up their chances of causing the Whites problems. And in one of Vicente Moreno’s first forays into Madrid territory, Aimar Oroz broke free from his marker inside the area and unleashed a right-footed shot that forced Courtois into a fine save to deny the visitors.

But all the controversy so far was nothing compared to what happened just before half-time. In an exchange of words between Bellingham and Munuera Montero, the referee decided to show the Englishman a straight red card, leaving him incredulous at the referee’s sudden decision. And with little more to come, the referee signaled for the teams to head to the dressing rooms at the end of a controversial first half.

A second half in which VAR was once again the protagonist

The Whites started the second half a man down and a goal ahead. And Osasuna came out with a vengeance, as two actions in five minutes led to the first two yellow cards of the match for the Rojillos. With an extra man on the pitch, Osasuna piled on the pressure and a cross from the wing found Moncayola alone in the six-yard box, forcing Courtois into his second save of the game.

As if the first-half performance was not enough, Munuera Montero was not done yet. In fact, in the play in which Budimir shot and was then pushed by Camavinga, the referee was asked by the VAR to review the action. Budimir had already checked the play, in what the regulations define as a residual play, but it was not enough to prevent the referee from awarding a penalty, as happened against Atleti. A penalty that Budimir converted to level the score.

Now, with the score level and a man down, the game was wide open, with a Real Madrid side whose legs were beginning to feel the strain with the Champions League game on the horizon. However, the Whites still had some fight left in them and in a move that saw Mbappé find himself alone in front of Herrera, he took too long to make a decision and allowed Herrando to steal the ball from him.

Moments later, Vinicius produced a move worthy of Maradona, beating a number of defenders, including Herrera himself. However, he was in too much of a hurry to shoot and the ball was cleared off the line by a Rojillos defender, denying what could have been one of the goals of the season.

The Brazilian tried everything in search of the goal that would allow the Whites to maintain their lead. However, Osasuna also threatened on the counterattack with aerial plays that caused havoc in the White defense. However, Vicente Moreno’s team never threatened the White goal.

Madrid, for their part, despite the initiative of Vinicius, were already feeling the weight in their legs after almost an hour with a man less. However, the Whites were not about to relinquish the lead so easily. After a long ball from Courtois, Mbappé cut in from the right, leaving his defender helpless, but Herrera made a fine save to deny him.

After that, there was little else for Madrid to do and they were left with a third successive league defeat, in a game in which the referee was once again the main protagonist, with several decisions that went against the Whites in a game that is sure to have repercussions.