Stay updated on the match where Mbappé’s goal and Bellingham’s red card result in a frustrating 1-1 draw for Madrid. Catch all the action here.
Introduction:
Real Madrid were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Osasuna at El Sadar in the La Liga match overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions from Munuera Montero on the field and Trujillo Suárez in the VAR booth. Despite taking an early lead through Kylian Mbappé, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were left frustrated by multiple contentious calls, including two denied penalty appeals and a red card for Jude Bellingham before halftime. The second half was marked by Osasuna being given a penalty, which enabled them to tie the score, and Madrid’s effort to score a late winner came up short.
Early Drama and Missed Penalty Calls
Madrid started on top and were soon embroiled in a penalty row when Catena seemed to touch the ball in the area in the first two minutes. The protests were ignored by referee Munuera Montero, and the VAR declined to get involved.
Soon after, Mbappé opened up the first actual threat of the match, delivering a precision cross to Vinícius Jr., whose header went wide. The Brazilian was still at the forefront of events and was once more involved in another disputed moment in the eighth minute when Moncayola tripped him inside the box with a knee to the leg. Munuera Montero again refused to award the penalty despite loud protests, and the VAR did not intervene to review the incident. See also: Bellingham’s Late Winner Seals Real Madrid’s 3-2 Victory
Mbappé Opens the Scoring
Madrid’s supremacy in the attack persisted as Luka Modrić sent a perfectly timed pass to Mbappé, whose effort was saved by Sergio Herrera. Still, the break came in the 15th minute. Federico Valverde sent an accurate cross down the right-hand side, and Mbappé did not falter, striking first-time inside the six-yard box. It was his third game in a row scoring the back of the net, and it placed Real Madrid in early 1-0 lead.
Madrid’s protests for a second penalty came in the 20th minute when Valverde’s cross hit Juan Cruz’s hand within the area. The referee, rather than giving a penalty, gave an indignant Ancelotti a yellow card for his complaints.
Osasuna had a golden chance in the 29th minute via Aimar Oroz, but his well-struck shot was thwarted by an excellent save by Thibaut Courtois. Madrid retaliated with an instant counterattack as Mbappé released Vinícius Jr. clean through on goal. But the Brazilian struggled to get his balance right, and his shot went wide.
Bellingham Sent Off Before Halftime
The game took a dramatic turn in the 39th minute when Jude Bellingham was given a straight red card following an altercation with Munuera Montero. The ruling left Madrid stunned, as they had to play the rest of the game with ten men.
Second Half: More Controversy and Osasuna’s Equalizer
Osasuna sought to exploit their superiority on the numbers once the half had been restored, and on the 54th minute they were given a penalty when Eduardo Camavinga was deemed to have committed a foul on Ante Budimir in the area. Surprisingly, in contrast to the denied penalty shouts of Madrid, here the VAR became active and advised reviewing the situation. Even though Budimir’s attempt had gone beyond the mark already, Munuera Montero signaled the penalty, and the striker levelled the scores to 1-1 after slotting home.
Madrid Push for a Winner
With one man down, Madrid kept pushing for the winning goal. In the 71st minute, Mbappé’s shot was blocked by Herrando just as he was ready to fire. A minute later, Vinícius Jr.’s attempt was cleared by Catena as it looked headed for the net.
Madrid came so close to getting the winner in the 81st minute as Modrić unleashed a cracking volley from within the box, but his shot was just over the byline. In added time, the golden chance belonged to Mbappé, as he was found one-on-one with Herrera, but the Osasuna goalie frustrated him with an important intervention.
A Frustrating End for Madrid
Despite their valiant efforts, Madrid were forced to share the points in a game that will long be remembered for its controversial refereeing. The team displayed immense resilience, playing over 50 minutes with ten men and still dominating large portions of the game. With this result, Madrid will now turn their attention to their next fixture, aiming to overcome the setbacks and continue their title challenge.