Real Madrid visited Atalanta at Gewiss Stadium this Wednesday to open their 2020/21 UEFA Champions League round of 16 series, with the Spanish team playing a very complicated game against the Italians.
Los Blancos had to fight really hard to unlock the game and it wasn’t until the last five minutes of action that Ferland Mendy pulled out his magic and gave the lead, and the win, to the Spanish giants with a shot outside of the box.
It was a hard-fought match and Atalanta really put up a big fight against the 13x Champions League winners but that wasn’t just enough. The biggest issue during the game, though, was a questionable play in the first minutes of the match, with the referee ejecting Remo Freuler before the first 20 minutes of action.
Fans blast Real Madrid and referees for a red card
This decision didn’t sit well with fans around the world and Real Madrid were blasted after such a controversial play. When Mendy was entering Atalanta’s area, Freuler did commit a foul but absolutely nobody believed it was worthy of a red card.
I would have said corruption .
— Jojo (@OhmyBlymey) February 24, 2021
Real Madrid played 119 more games than Barcelona
— Idir ���� (@Total_RMCF1) February 24, 2021
Also the team with the most knockout stages fixtures but let’s manipulate everyone am I right ������
— Simon (@RMSimz) February 24, 2021
“Joint most” mean anything to you?
— Idris (@CSzn_) February 24, 2021
0 – editions of champions league won by Real Madrid without external aid
— javi (@Todomotornet) February 24, 2021
How the keeper wasn’t sent off omg
— Nocali (@Nocalyptus) February 24, 2021
They’ve played way more games than any other clubs so yes this stat makes more sense
— Seth Canny (@pepperlickin) February 24, 2021
I am not sure “Tradition” is the right word.
— Abdulwahab I. Azzouni (@azzouni_i) February 24, 2021
Unfair advantage
— myYear (@Gibson3G) February 24, 2021
I’d have said “Bias”
— Matthew Rushton (@MatthewRushton7) February 24, 2021
And @ChampionsLeague say it’s not fixed.
— Gurjeevan singh (@Jeeves1969) February 24, 2021
This is not a red card foul
— David Danielsson (@Viva_elBarca10) February 24, 2021
That is always a yellow. Except when it’s Real Madrid.
— D@D (@LaLiberta_free) February 24, 2021
Papá Pérez tax pic.twitter.com/ZM1mgblwMW
— Jam �� (@FCBJam) February 24, 2021
Vardrid cheating again��������Can this small club have some shame???
— Vic �� (@JuveVic6) February 24, 2021
Ferland Mendy has more UCL K.O. away goals than Pessi in the last 3 seasons
— . (@ZISPECIALONE__) February 24, 2021
Cry more…It was a red card…Doesn’t matter if it was in the 17th minute or 70th…Atalanta had nothing in their tank…We dominated from the start…
— VEDANT YADAV (@vedanty7289) February 24, 2021
For everyone saying that foul on Mendy is not a red card?
This was Sergio Ramos on Gabriel Jesus (who dived) last year in the same round which cost Real Madrid the entire tie. pic.twitter.com/ieo4QJD31h
— Rk (@RkFutbol) February 24, 2021
— ���������� ������è �� (@FCB_Driss_Cule) February 24, 2021
rigged
— #30 #11 (@F3lipeSW) February 24, 2021
real madrid �� barça dogs
— endiiii (@endbaba06) February 24, 2021
Congrats, another fixed game, shame on the ref!!!
— Brucia98 (@brucia98) February 24, 2021
real VARDRİD…
— Aliçooooo (@Ali49738440) February 24, 2021
We dont get praise for winning with nine 1st team players injured we get called vardrid instead. Smh
— Eri (Follow Me Back) (@RMAEri1) February 24, 2021
This robbery is Top 5 in my book ” Top frauds of football ”
— ScatMan (@ScatMan12345670) February 24, 2021
real madrid �� barça dogs
— endiiii (@endbaba06) February 24, 2021
Madrid won the game with a lone goal by Mendy, the same player involved in the polemic play and now the Spanish side will try to defend their advantage at home two weeks from now. This decision didn’t satisfy anybody and now the Italian team will try to turn things around in Madrid.
