2024-02-14 13:09:00
Real Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at RB Leipzig was overshadowed by a more than controversial referee decision. This angered parts of the Spanish press. However, the Saxons also lost their fat.
Leipzig supposedly took the lead after two minutes, but Benjamin Sesko’s goal was canceled out by referee Irfan Peljto.
In the situation, the goalscorer was neither offside nor committed a foul. Instead, Benjamin Henrichs immediately stood behind goalkeeper Andriy Lunin when Xaver Schlager took a corner. There was slight contact – according to the referees, enough to significantly hinder the keeper. A decision that was at least worth discussing and was not reversed by the VAR.
Afterwards, the team and coach Marco Rose went wild. Even Toni Kroos admitted after the end of the game that he would have given the goal.
The Barcelona-based sports newspapers Mundo Deportivo and Sport then attacked the referee team and the Royals.
Real Madrid is accused of “referee cooperation”.
“What a scandal! Inexplicable goal for Leipzig against Real Madrid disallowed,” headlined Mundo Deportivo.: “Van Boekel’s VAR, which has already damaged Barça, is giving Real Madrid wings again.”
Accordingly, the Dutchman had already made “serious mistakes” to the detriment of FC Barcelona last season.
Meanwhile, Sport wrote: “The VAR is also helping Madrid in the Champions League!” There was also talk of a “referee cooperation”.
The statements from as and Marca – both based in Madrid – show how divided the media landscape in Spain was after the game.
“Unsportsmanlike conduct” by RB Leipzig?
The criticism of the referee was based on other reasons. “Leipzig’s unsportsmanlike approach and the referee who outraged Madrid and almost cost them the game,” was the headline of the as.
Marca wrote of “one of the dirtiest actions in recent memory.” The drastic choice of words was triggered by a scene in the second half when winning goal scorer Brahim Diaz fell to the ground and apparently injured himself.
“Everyone understood the ‘message’ and stood their ground, except (Amadou) Haidara, who took advantage of the ‘gift’ from Brahim, who left the ball, to initiate a dangerous counterattack that almost cost Real Madrid a goal.”
Real Madrid can look forward to a good starting position for the second leg thanks to the narrow victory. Then the second round starts on March 6th at the legendary Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
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