The match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium took an unexpected turn as Real Madrid overturned a 2-0 deficit against Almería in a nail-biting La Liga clash, ultimately securing a 3-2 triumph. The game-winning goal came in a dramatic fashion, deep into injury time—the 99th minute to be precise. This remarkable comeback, however, was not without its share of controversy, as several refereeing decisions stirred up debate.
A penalty awarded to the hosts, the disallowance of Sergio Arribas’ goal, a Vinícius Júnior strike, and the addition of 11 minutes of stoppage time were all points of contention. Almería’s players expressed their disillusionment with the officiating. Marc Pubill spoke out post-match saying, “It seems that it was decided that we can’t win here at the Bernabéu today, and that’s what happened. There’s not much else to say,” during his interview with DAZN.
‘Nightmare’: Almeria coach
he match saw Almeria’s coach ordered off the field, and postgame reflections made it clear he was quite troubled by the series of events. When asked about the referee’s performance, Almeria’s coach, Gaizka Garitano, opted to remain tight-lipped. “As for my sending off? It was justified. I vehemently protested. There was nothing more I could do,” he said, with his statements echoed by the Spanish newspaper Marca.
“Could we have triumphed today? The incidents were there for all to see. I will hold back my views to avoid a suspension. The VAR? Its actions were clear to everyone,” Garitano continued, expressing his frustration without revealing his full thoughts. “I usually steer clear of discussing referees. Words elude me to depict tonight’s events. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered such a scenario here. We are yet to celebrate a win, but the team’s diligence is apparent. This evening was a nightmare for the boys,” Garitano concluded with a tone of disappointment.
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