DBasia.news – The fierce match in the 2020-2021 LaLiga title duel ended in a 2-2 draw between Real Madrid and Sevilla at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Monday (10/05). A penalty controversy occurred in that match.
The match was tight. Madrid had possession of the ball by 59%, released 17 kicks (seven kicks on target), Sevilla with 41% possession of the ball but released three kicks on target.
The match ended 2-2 with goals from Fernando (22 ‘) and Ivan Rakitic (78’ penalties) which Marco Asensio (67 ‘) and Eden Hazard (90 + 4’) replied. The draw further heated the fight for the LaLiga title after Barcelona’s goalless draw against Atletico Madrid.
From fourth place in the standings with three more matches remaining there is still a chance to win the LaLiga title, namely Atletico (77 points), Real Madrid (75 points), Barcelona (75 points), and Sevilla (71 points).
The draw also sparked controversy with Eder Militao’s handball which resulted in a penalty for Sevilla and was executed by Rakitic. The handball was accidental and resulted in a penalty, while Bono’s foul on Karim Benzema after that was not a penalty.
“The ball hit Militao’s shoulder first, then his arm,” said Marca refereeing expert, Juan Andujar Oliver.
“This was completely unintentional. For me, giving a penalty is not enough.”
“The game should have continued and ended with a clear penalty from Bono against Benzema.”
Meanwhile, Ivan Rakitic considered that there was nothing strange about the penalty. As long as the ball hits the hand, intentional or not, it remains a handball.
“From where I was, it’s definitely a penalty for handball,” added Rakitic. “We can all say how we interpret the law of handball. If (the ball) hits the arm and changes direction, it’s a handball and penalty.”
“It went our way today but not long ago. If the ball changes direction, it’s handball. If we want to make it happen, we got errors (from the ref) against us in the last two games.”
Zinedine Zidane was infuriated
Zinedine Zidane, who is usually calm in responding to various things, was angered by the decision of the match referee, Juan Martinez Munuera. According to him, all the referee’s explanations were unable to convince him.
“The referee has to explain the laws of handball to me, but that’s how it is,” continued Zidane. “We will fight to the death (all out) until the end of the season.”
“We can talk now. Nothing will be resolved and that’s what bothers me. We have to think about the remaining three games. I’m angry because we deserved to win this game.”
“I have my faith in football. What I’m saying is that I saw two handballs and they punished our handballs,” he stated
In their last three matches, Real Madrid will face Granada (14/05), Athletic Club Bilbao (16/05) and Villarreal (23/05).