Real Madrid beats Betis as VAR takes centre stage
Madrid- Real Madrid edged Real Betis 3-2 in an eventful game for its first win of the La Liga season on Saturday, thanks to a late Sergio Ramos penalty that was furiously protested by the host. Madrid captain Ramos again showed nerves of steel to chip the ball into the net from the spot after a VAR review for a handball by defender Marc Bartra, who appeared to have been pushed by visiting forward Borja Mayoral.
Earlier in the second half, Betis defender Emerson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Luka Jovic following a VAR review, while Madrid’s equaliser, given as an own goal by Emerson, was awarded after another VAR intervention ruled that Karim Benzema had been onside in the build-up Madrid’s run to last season’s title was aided by a series of refereeing decisions going its way, but Ramos did not think his side was receiving special treatment. “Sometimes the referee goes against us, other times the decisions are in our favour, but I don’t think it’s intentional at all,” said the defender, who finished last season with a career-best 11 goals.
Ramos also said his side needed to be more consistent.
“It was a difficult game but this is what makes football special. We played well in the first 15 minutes then we gifted them the ball and a team like Betis who know how to play well will always create chances and score against you,” he added.
In the other matches on Saturday, Real Sociedad cruised to a 3-0 win over Elche, while a struggling Valencia was held to a 1-1 draw by Huesca.