All the refereeing controversies (resolved in favor of Real Madrid) before the Clásico

BarcelonaBarça visits the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday (4:15 p.m., DAZN LaLiga) at a controversial Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid head into the Clásico as leaders, two points ahead of the reigning champions, but not without their share of refereeing disputes.

In the nine La Liga matches Los Blancos have played so far, there have been some decisions that have tipped the scales in favor of Real Madrid. In the first matchday, against Osasuna, a dubious penalty by Juan Cruz on Kylian Mbappé and a harsh sending-off for Bretones paved the way for Xabi Alonso's team. The red card, for once, was fortuitous and was reviewed despite the lack of top-quality VAR footage.

In the following league match, the Whites visited Carlos Tartiere, where they took a resounding victory (0-3). However, the goal that opened the scoring came from a dubious prior foul by Tchouaméni on Dendoncker, which the home side repeatedly challenged, but which neither the referee nor the VAR considered.

In the second half, a penalty was awarded against Huijsen against Rondón. In the play, you can clearly see how the Whites' defender pushed the forward from behind just as he tried to control the ball. According to Law 12 of the IFAB Laws of the Game—incorporated into the RFEF General Regulations—a punishable foul is when a player "impedes the progress of an opponent with imprudent, reckless physical contact or the use of excessive force." He doesn't chase the ball, but instead uses his body to displace the opponent and prevent an obvious opportunity.

On Matchday 3 of the La Liga season, Madrid hosted Mallorca. In the decisive stretch of the match, Militao caught and unbalanced Mallorca's Lato inside the box. According to Law 12 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, a punishable offence is when a player "impedes the progress of an opponent with reckless or imprudent physical contact."

In the match between Espanyol and Real Madrid, corresponding to the fifth round of La Liga, Argentine Mastantuono raised his leg too high and struck Carlos Romero with his studs, causing a visible wound to his temple. Despite the harshness of the play and the clear danger to the Espanyol full-back's physical safety, the referee only showed a yellow card. VAR also did not intervene to rectify the decision, although the images left little room for doubt. Mastantuono himself scored a goal in the following match against Levante.

The final stretch of expulsions

In the last two La Liga matches before El Clásico, Madrid have received three red cards: one for Villarreal's Mourinho for a second yellow card, and another for Getafe's Nyom for a direct red card.

In the first case, Mourinho received a second yellow card after a challenge that, reviewed in slow motion, seemed more like a fortuitous collision than a reckless act. The Yellows' defender's action on Vinícius showed no risk to the opponent's safety or disproportionate use of force, so, according to the rules, it shouldn't have led to a red card.

Despite having the images, VAR didn't recommend reviewing the incident, and the opposing team was reduced to ten men with the score still tied. From that moment on, Madrid dominated and eventually took all three points.

As for Nyom, the direct expulsion came after a dispute with Vinícius, in which the Getafe defender extended his arm to protect the ball and lightly collided with his opponent. Although the contact was minimal and not violent, the referee ruled it "aggressive conduct," and VAR, instead of acting to correct a potential error, upheld the decision without showing any additional replays to the television report.