Real Madrid 3-2 Almería (21 Jan, 2024) Game Analysis،
A Dani Carvajal goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time saved Real Madrid, giving them a 3-2 home win over bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frenzied La Liga brawl marred by controversy of VAR.
Madrid moved to the top of the La Liga table with 51 points, two ahead of Girona, who host Sevilla later on Sunday.
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Lowly Almeria, who remained winless after 21 La Liga matches this season, took a two-goal lead thanks to a quick strike from Largie Ramazani in the first minute and a brilliant long-range volley from Edgar González in a first half. dismal time for Madrid, which did not succeed. I don't record a single shot on target.
Visibly frustrated Real coach Carlo Ancelotti did not return with his players to the locker room during the break and made three changes to start the second half that gave his team momentum.
With Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham applying pressure, Real closed the gap in the 56th minute with a Bellingham penalty awarded for a questionable handball after a lengthy VAR check.
However, Almeria saw a Sergio Arribas effort following a counter-attack ruled out later after another lengthy VAR check.
Referee Francisco Maeso ruled there had been a foul in the build-up when Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy was harshly adjudged to have fouled Bellingham when he caught him in the face as he tried to regain his balance.
Five minutes later, Maeso first ruled out Madrid's equalizer for a Vinicius Jr. handball before conceding the goal after deciding he was off the shoulder following another review of VAR. The decision left Almeria players and manager Asier Garitano furious.
Bellingham also had a goal ruled out for a controversial offside in the build-up, and he almost scored a little later with an acrobatic scissor kick that went just wide of Almeria's goal as Real was making a late push.
Nine minutes into added time, after a few near misses and a red card for manager Garitano for complaining to the referee, Bellingham used his magic in a crowded box to lift a cross to Carvajal who scored the winner at the far post.
“Today we were robbed,” Gonzalo Melero from Almeria told DAZN.
“It pains me to say it, but there is no other way to take it. And it's not the first time this year. What happened today exceeded all limits , it was incredible.
“There was nothing more we could have done for them to win the game.”
Madrid defender Carvajal disagreed.
“If Melero watches the matches calmly, he will surely realize that they are properly refereed,” Carvajal told DAZN.
“I told my teammates at halftime that anything could happen until the last minute, and it happened. Thanks to our fans who lifted us to the sky.”
