In the 88th minute, Mbappé was the victim of a textbook penalty, so evident that even a five-year-old child could have recognized it without hesitation.
Frustration had settled among Real Madrid supporters, who had come to terms with the notion that the La Liga title was effectively lost following the debacle against Mallorca. Nonetheless, football—always a domain of unpredictability—offered a glimmer of hope: a victory at the Bernabéu against Girona might have applied pressure on Barcelona, potentially inciting the Espanyol brothers to perform an unexpected feat at the Camp Nou this Saturday, thereby injecting some excitement into the final phase of the championship.
An Ode to Controversy: The Legacy of Negreira
However, this particular matchday, tinged with a retro atmosphere, saw the officiating team seemingly paying tribute to Negreira, a figure whose influence had long been detrimental to Real Madrid. Negreira’s impact spanned decades, initially as an on-field referee and later, for an extensive period of 17 years, serving as the vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees. From the sanctuary of his office, he wielded considerable power, consistently undermining Madrid’s prospects whenever the opportunity arose.