Real Madrid News
Oviedo star breaks silence on potential Real Madrid foul before Mbappe goal – ‘For me, it’s legal’
Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo in their second La Liga match wasn’t without controversy, as a key moment leading to Kylian Mbappe’s opening goal sparked heated debate both on the pitch and in the stands.
The incident occurred when Aurelien Tchouameni won the ball from Leander Dendoncker in midfield, setting up the attack that ended with Mbappé finding the back of the net.
Oviedo players immediately surrounded referee Ricardo de Burgos, claiming Tchouameni had fouled Dendoncker in the build-up.
The challenge looked unclear in real time, and while replays did not conclusively show whether the Frenchman got the ball first, VAR decided not to intervene.
With no review called, the referee allowed the goal to stand, much to the frustration of the Oviedo players and their supporters.
Oviedo players share honest opinions
After the match, Oviedo midfielder Kwasi Sibo admitted he initially thought the challenge was a foul. However, after watching the replay, he changed his stance.
Speaking to El Desmarque, Sibo said: “At the beginning, for me, Tchouameni doesn’t touch the ball.
⁉️💥 Was there a foul by Tchouameni before Mbappé’s goal?
— Archivo VAR 🇬🇧 (@ArchivoVAREng) August 24, 2025
✅ 𝗡𝗢.
👉🏻 The French player gets to the ball first and does so cleanly.
▪️ De Burgos Bengoetxea indicated this on the field, and VAR correctly confirmed his decision. pic.twitter.com/WcbYAOaHeh
“But when I saw the video later, he touched the ball first, and I didn’t say anything. It’s clean. For me, it’s legal.”
Furthermore, goalkeeper Aaron Escandell also weighed in with a more balanced perspective.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the referee’s role and suggested Oviedo should focus on their own performance rather than the decision.
“Everyone has their own opinion, and I respect that. Referees have a very difficult role. But Tchouameni’s is very strict.
“It’s no big deal. We have to worry about our own business,” Escandell said.
The tackle quickly became one of the most talked-about moments on social media, with many fans debating whether Mbappe’s goal should have been disallowed.
But with VAR opting against intervention and Oviedo players later softening their stance, the controversy may now begin to fade, even as the debate lingers among supporters.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
