Carlo Ancelotti has asserted that the referee made accurate decisions in favor of Real Madrid during their contested victory over Almeria.
Despite the anticipation of a straightforward win for Madrid against Almeria, who reside at the bottom of the La Liga table without a win all season, the home team found themselves trailing within 40 seconds of kickoff and conceding again before halftime. A series of halftime changes, coupled with goals from Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and a 99th-minute tap-in from Dani Carvajal, ultimately secured a 3-2 victory for Los Blancos.
In addition to tactical adjustments, Madrid also benefited from three contentious calls by referee Francisco Jose Hernandez Maeso. The first involved a penalty awarded to Madrid for a handball in the penalty area, converted by Bellingham. Shortly thereafter, a VAR check disallowed Almeria’s goal, as it was deemed to involve a supposed foul on Bellingham in the build-up.
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The third decision, perhaps the most contentious, saw the referee allowing a Vinicius Junior goal to stand despite replays showing the ball hitting his elbow before finding the net. When questioned about these decisions post-match, Ancelotti maintained his belief in their correctness.
“I understand Almeria’s anger with the VAR decisions, but I think they were all well decided,” stated Ancelotti. “I’ve seen them. I think the referee made the right decision, not VAR. VAR warned him and he decided. And I think he was right.”
The victory keeps Real Madrid within one point of the surprising La Liga leaders, Girona, at the top of the table, setting the stage for a significant clash between the two in mid-February.