Real Madrid Defeats Santander 3-0 Amid VAR Penalty Controversy
Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 3-0 amid a VAR penalty controversy, extending their winning streak to six matches and staying three points behind Barcelona.
Real Madrid secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Racing Santander, extending their winning streak to six matches across all competitions. The match was overshadowed by a controversial penalty awarded to Kylian Mbappe in the 11th minute following a minimal contact from Lucas Pratti. Referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero pointed to the spot, and the decision stood after a VAR review, giving Madrid an early lead.
Former referee and analyst Iturralde Gonzalez strongly criticized the decision, arguing that the contact was insufficient to justify a foul and pointing out inconsistencies in VAR interventions across La Liga. Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho defended his side and addressed a penalty appeal by Santander in the second half, when the ball struck Aurelien Tchouameni's hand after a deflection. Mourinho noted that such incidents can never be penalties under the rules.
Real Madrid capitalized on their momentum, with Jude Bellingham scoring his 50th goal for the club since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. Young winger Yan Diomande added the third goal, continuing his impressive run this season. Trent Alexander-Arnold also delivered a strong performance after returning to the starting lineup, earning praise from Mourinho for his technical quality.
