Real Madrid couldn't secure a victory against Espanyol, ending the match with a defeat on the scoreboard. Despite being superior at all times and not suffering in defense, the reality is that Ancelotti's team didn't manage to earn even a point. This result, combined with Atlético's recent victory, once again makes the league standings very tight, with a one-point gap between both competitors.
Real Madrid wasn't at all pleased with referee Muñiz Ruíz's performance. In the first half, what seemed to be a completely legal goal for Ancelotti's team was disallowed due to a push by Kylian Mbappé.
However, the worst came in the second half. Even with the VAR tool at his disposal, the referee decided to forgive the expulsion of an Espanyol defender. This happened in the 60th minute, causing great anger from the Madrid sector in Cornellà.
Starting a textbook counterattack, Kylian Mbappé was stopped by Romero from Espanyol with a clear foul from behind. The referee allowed the play to continue, which ended with an attack from Real Madrid, but later showed the yellow card to the Espanyol defender.
Ancelotti, from the bench, was asking however for a red card for the player who, without the option to contest the ball... came from behind and hit the Frenchman in the calf.
Kylian Mbappé receives confirmation after losing to Espanyol: "It's a red card"
We are talking about such a clear expulsion that even a staunch anti-Madridist like Iturralde González couldn't understand the decision. During the broadcast of the match between Espanyol and Real Madrid on Carrusel, the former referee was blunt, indicating that it should have all ended with Romero's expulsion. "It's a very clear red card, and the referee has to see it," he stated.
Precisely, this forgiven expulsion is even more significant considering that, reaching the final minutes of the match, Espanyol scored. And the scorer was none other than Romero, the player who should have been expelled for his action against Mbappé.
The match couldn't have ended more angrily for Real Madrid, who let a great advantage slip away and reopened LaLiga. All because of a refereeing decision that would have left Espanyol with one less player from the 60th minute due to the action against Mbappé. Precisely the player who ended up scoring the winning goal for the Catalans: What a disgrace!