Real Madrid lost the derby 2-1 at the Metropolitano, and said so in writing. In its statement, the club describes a match “spoiled by the abominable performance of referee Ortiz Arias”, according to the text quoted by HLN.
The club then goes into detail: Cristian Romero should have been sent off in the first half for catching Jude Bellingham on the knee, and Lee Kang-in nine minutes later for a studs-up tackle on Federico Valverde’s left ankle. Both finished the game.
On the pitch, it was Dean Huijsen who saw red, on 52 minutes, after VAR upgraded his yellow for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Álex Grimaldo scored the penalty on 53, Jonathan David made it 2-0 on 59, both past Thibaut Courtois. Rüdiger headed Real back to 2-1 on 89.
A club writing in black and white that a referee was abominable, I read that one twice. There are twelve of us in my WhatsApp group, we type the same thing every Sunday around five, except we haven’t got a press office and my brother-in-law does it all in capitals. That’s a disgrace and it’s historic at the same time. I’m weighing my words.
According to the referee’s report quoted by HLN, things got heated at half-time, with Antonio Rüdiger and Morten Hjulmand involved. Atlético goalkeeping coach Pablo Vercellone and Real assistant Pedro Machado were both banished from the bench for the second half.
Two staff members sent to the dressing room at the break, tactically, you pay for that. My Sunday bench is the club delegate with his folder, a lad who writes down the substitutions and another who has to pick up the kids at five. Take two of them away and I’m doing my five changes from memory. A flat pitch away, mind you.
José Mourinho, for his part, showed reporters two printed screenshots of the incidents in question, and went after referee Ortiz Arias, 41, the refereeing appointments committee and VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo. Diego Simeone refused to discuss the decisions: “No matter who you are, Mourinho, Flick, Pellegrini, myself or anyone else, you have to be careful with what you say”, he said according to Voetbalkrant.
It is Real’s second defeat in the Liga this season. Six points behind Barcelona, and second place handed to Atlético.
It’s true, we checked: RTBF Sport.
