Real Madrid News
Real Madrid in a state of shock over refereeing in Spain once again after derby
It is evident that Real Madrid have a long way to go before they can match up to Barcelona, with Jose Mourinho having a humongous task of solving problems in the dressing room.
But that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Real Madrid could have still been trailing Barcelona by just three points had it not been for some poor refereeing vs Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho was quite vocal about the referee and the VAR in the post-match presser, but it appears Real Madrid have not moved on just yet.
Real Madrid in shock and dismay
According to AS, there is a state of shock and dismay within Real Madrid over the officiating they have faced in Spain this season.
The report argues that the club feel the treatment they receive domestically, across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa, bears no resemblance to their experiences in European competition.
That sentiment has been fuelled by the recent derby, where the Technical Committee of Referees itself admitted that Atletico’s Kang-In Lee should have been sent off for a dangerous challenge on Federico Valverde.
Real Madrid’s videos on their own channel have sought to highlight what they perceive as inconsistency, and the club clearly believe the decisions in the derby, including the Kang-In and Cuti Romero incidents, went against them.
A contested debate
The column also makes sweeping claims about a historical statistical bias in favour of Barcelona and reviving references to the long-running Negreira controversy.
Barcelona have consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the Negreira case, and refereeing bias is a subject that provokes fierce disagreement on both sides of the Clasico divide, the article argues.
What is less disputed is that the derby featured several controversial calls, and that the CTA acknowledged at least one clear error.
For Real Madrid, that admission offers little comfort given the result stands, and with Valverde now injured, the frustration has only deepened.
Ultimately, refereeing controversies are nothing new in Spanish football, and the debate shows no sign of dying down.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho considering starting 23-year-old Real Madrid ace against Villarreal – report
After impressing during the international break, Eduardo Camavinga has a major opportunity to establish himself in Real Madrid’s midfield rotation.
Indeed, according to Defensa Central, Jose Mourinho is considering starting the Frenchman against Villarreal, with injuries and doubts over several players limiting his options.
Real Madrid cannot afford to drop points against Villarreal if they want to remain in the title race. However, Mourinho has issues to deal with in the squad, which could lead him to turn to Camavinga for a crucial role.
Camavinga could replace Tchouameni in midfield
The 23-year-old star could line up as the defensive midfielder in the double pivot, with Bernardo Silva or Arda Guler alongside him, and will be tasked with providing balance in midfield.
Real Madrid face Villarreal with several problems in central defence. Ibrahima Konate is expected to be a late call, leading Mourinho to consider moving Aurelien Tchouameni into defence alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Meanwhile, Federico Valverde could also struggle to be ready after the ankle injury he sustained in the derby before the international break.
The Uruguayan has continued to work individually away from the group and might return to group training tomorrow. Even then, his readiness to start remains in question.
That would leave a place open in midfield, with Camavinga in line to fill in.
Camavinga impressed during the international break
Camavinga has started only one match this season, the defeat against Real Betis.
Despite his limited opportunities, Mourinho is keen to bring the Frenchman back into the fold after he impressed for France during the international break.
Zinedine Zidane called the Real Madrid star up for his first France squad, and the midfielder performed well during the break.
That has given Mourinho and Real Madrid reason to be optimistic about using him against Villarreal, with the hope that he can move closer to the level he showed after first arriving at the club.
Therefore, the Villarreal match could represent an important test for Camavinga and a chance for the Frenchman to show that he can provide the balance Real Madrid need in midfield.
