Xavi has alleged that Real Madrid benefited from referee decisions in their comeback victory against Almeria, emphasizing the significant challenge for Barcelona to clinch La Liga this season.
On Sunday afternoon, Madrid appeared headed for an unexpected home defeat as Almeria, positioned at the bottom of the league, led 2-0 by halftime.
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Nevertheless, Carlo Ancelotti’s team, aided by three controversial VAR decisions, secured a 3-2 triumph, with Dani Carvajal netting the decisive goal in the ninth minute of injury time.
The outcome maintains Madrid’s seven-point lead over Barcelona, who secured a 4-2 win against Real Betis on Sunday evening.
Following their defeat to Madrid, Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero asserted that his team was “robbed” at the Santiago Bernabeu.
‘It pains me to say it, but there’s no other way to take it. And that’s not the first this year. What happened today went beyond all limits, it was unbelievable,’ he said.
‘Nothing more could have been done for them to win the game.’
When asked about the controversy in Real Madrid’s win over Almeria, Barcelona manager Xavi said: ‘I’ve seen it.
‘I stick with [Gaizka] Garitano’s [Almeria head coach] words and [Alfredo] Relano’s [Spanish journalist] reflection. That’s the good one, the correct one. Very good journalist.
‘If we speak up they sanction us, but everyone has seen it.
‘It’s going to be very difficult to win this league, I said it in Getafe, that there were things that didn’t suit me.
‘Let’s keep working, and as far as we can. There are things that we don’t control, everyone has seen it today.
‘I remember in Getafe, the penalty in Vallecas against Raphinha, Joao’s goal in Granada… these are situations that we would take six more points.
‘In the end they are not excuses, it is the reality. Situations in the 95th minute that come up against us. Today we have to talk about the team’s game, satisfied, continue on the path.’
