Karim Benzema once again grabbed the headlines for Real Madrid as he hit the late winner against Sevilla on Sunday but it was a game packed full of controversy.
The 34-year-old is enjoying the best season of his life in goalscoring terms, and is one goal away from hitting 40 goals in all competitions for the first time. His tally includes hat-tricks in successive Champions League games, while he also scored the extra-time winner which took Real Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Madrid’s victory in the Andalusian capital took them 15 points clear at the top of La Liga and they require just 10 points from their final six matches to clinch the league title. Yet despite Madrid remarkably coming from two goals down at the break to win late on, it was a game which had its fair share of contentious officiating decisions.
Two goals midway through the first half from Ivan Rakitic and Erik Lamela had appeared to put Sevilla firmly on course for three points, as the home side dominated the game against Carlo Ancelotti’s out-of-sorts side. Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga subsequently picked up a yellow card but moments later was hugely fortunate to escape a second yellow.
The Frenchman committed a cynical foul on his fellow countryman Anthony Martial, who is on loan at Sevilla from Manchester United. Camavinga entirely missed the ball with his attempt at a challenge while also bringing down the forward in a moment which prompted Martial to be replaced minutes later by striker Rafa Mir. Yet somewhat controversially, referee Guillermo Cuadra decided not to show Camavinga a second yellow card.
Have Your Say! Will Real Madrid win this season’s Champions League? Tell us what you think here.
It was a moment that came before the visitors turned the game around after the break; Rodrygo Goes brought Madrid back into the match shortly after the break before wave after wave of attack. Vinicius Junior was cruelly and controversially denied a leveller as the referee deemed that he had handled the ball before scoring, although this did not appear to be reflected on the VAR replays. Nacho Fernandez soon did hit an equaliser prior to Benzema firing home the winner in stoppage time.
The match capped a wonderful week for Ancelotti’s side as they progressed through to the semi-finals of the Champions League after they edged past Chelsea in extra time in the last eight.
