Real Madrid opened the season with a controversial incident in the 3rd minute, when Espanyol defender Alex Calatrava kicked Vinícius Jr. of Real Madrid. The action was not sanctioned, and the match ended 1-2 in favor of Espanyol.
Incident in the 3rd minute
At the start of the match, Espanyol's number 22 delivered a kick behind the back of Vinícius Jr. while the Brazilian was on the ground. The play was not detected by the central referee or the VAR, sparking a strong reaction from Real Madrid's bench, which felt the action warranted a more thorough review. According to reports, the play could be classified as an aggression and, therefore, justify a straight red card.
Referee and bench reaction
Despite Real Madrid's complaints, the referee chose not to sanction the play and allowed the match to continue. Later, in the 64th minute, Calatrava received a yellow card for a separate infringement. The player, who also scored the goal that equalized the match, remained on the field after the initial incident.
Final result and cards
Both teams scored a goal in the first half, keeping the score tied until the end of the 45 minutes. Espanyol's goal, scored by Calatrava, levelled the match. In the second half, Carlos Espí netted the decisive goal for Real Madrid, sealing a 1-2 victory. The 3rd-minute incident remains a point of debate, as the foul was not sanctioned and the referee did not use VAR to review it.
