Real Madrid faced its first league match at Santiago Bernabéu with more problems than its media supporters had desired. Osasuna pushed Xabi Alonso's team to the limit until the final minutes. It was in the second half when the referee's intervention determined the outcome of the match.
The usual story. Real Madrid, always harassing referees for feeling wronged, was the team that benefited most from penalties last season. It starts the current one just as it finished the previous: winning by a penalty.
The referee, Real Madrid's MVP
There's no party at Bernabéu without a penalty. Yesterday, once again, the referee was the Madridist MVP who turned a step by Mbappé into a penalty against Osasuna. Then the sending off, to top it all off.
Three days talking about the refereeing in Mallorca-Barça as if it were a matter of state. They turn it into child's play at the first opportunity, Real Madrid-Osasuna.
It's understandable that Jota Jordi isn't fully confident. He sees it coming: "First match and they're already winning with a penalty that isn't. How difficult this year will be," he explained in a tweet.
Barça was better and already took the lead on the scoreboard in Mallorca by playing better and against eleven. Real Madrid remains just as sluggish as with Ancelotti and keeps relying on the referee wildcard as its only way to win matches. Just like last year.
Bernabéu ended up begging for the final whistle against Osasuna and nerves are taking over Real Madrid. In the standings, Barça is back on top from day one as a result of its play.
The impression left by Lamine Yamal and company is good enough to think about going against everything and everyone. There's enough quality to face the hostile environment Barça will encounter in LaLiga.
A penalty that changes everything
The key moment of Real Madrid-Osasuna came with a penalty awarded in the second half with the score tied at zero. Osasuna was defending in an organized way and Real Madrid was desperately searching for a play to give it some breathing room.
It found it when the referee awarded the maximum penalty in a play that sparked a storm of reactions.
The images reveal that the foul was committed by Kylian Mbappé in attack by stepping on his opponent. However, the referee's decision went the other way, punishing the reds and paving the way for the whites. Mbappé simply threw himself to the ground as soon as he felt contact.
The theatrics he added to his fall were spectacular. No one can deny what's attributed to him: "he worked for the penalty."
Outrage in Osasuna
The reaction from the Navarrese club was immediate. From Osasuna's official account, photos and videos were shared with the aim of proving that the play should've been a foul in attack and not a penalty in favor of Real Madrid. The outrage spread among players, management, and fans.
The coach Alessio Lisci saw it this way: "Live, it seemed very clear to me, but then you have to see if it's Mbappé who steps on Juan or the other way around. To me, it seems that Mbappé steps on Juan and then Juan hits him."
The match didn't end there. In addition to the penalty, the referee showed a more than questionable red card that completely unsettled Osasuna. With one footballer less, Jagoba Arrasate's team lost its ability to respond and ended up watching the three points fly to Chamartín.
This way, Real Madrid already has 1 penalty in its favor compared to 0 for Barça so far in the championship. This is a fact that doesn't go unnoticed in the blaugrana environment, where they believe the balance is starting to tip too soon. No one doubts that Real Madrid is the legitimate champion of penalties.
Playing problems in Madrid
Beyond the refereeing controversy, the match once again showed that Real Madrid still isn't working with the new coach. Xabi Alonso is looking for a recognizable style, but the team ended up begging for the final whistle at home against a theoretically inferior opponent.
Meanwhile, Barça keeps doing its thing. Despite the obstacles, it keeps leading and with much more solid soccer than what the whites have shown.
The feeling in Barcelona is clear. Beyond outside help, Flick's project conveys a sense of security that's yet to be seen at Chamartín.