By Daily Sports on February 25, 2019
Real Madrid beat Levante thanks to two disputed penalties from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
Benzema stepped up to score the opener after Luka Modric’s cross hit the arms of Enis Bardhi, but Roger Marti deservedly equalised, having hit the post twice in the first half.
Real got another penalty for a Cheick Doukoure foul on Casemiro, which substitute Bale scored.
The visitors had defender Nacho sent off late on for two bookings.
Levante's unused substitute Pedro Lopez was also dismissed from the bench having been booked twice for protesting at refereeing decisions.
The result takes Real to within nine points of leaders Barcelona, going into two consecutive Clasicos.
They host Barca in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Wednesday, and again in La Liga on Saturday.
VAR benefits Real in close game
Levante fans felt a real sense of injustice as their side, who drop to 13th in La Liga, lost after a commendable performance and whistled the referee at every opportunity.
Official Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva initially did not award a penalty when Luka Modric’s cross hit the arms of Enis Bardhi, who had put it up to try to block his face.
He went over to a screen to watch the incident again, then gave the spot-kick which Benzema scored.
In the second half, Casemiro went down easily under pressure from Doukoure. Villanueva awarded the kick and, after discussions with the VAR officials, stuck with his decision – despite the Real Madrid midfielder appearing to dive.
To add to their grievances, they had two penalties turned down – for a Dani Carvajal foul on Jose Luis Morales and a Raphael Varane handball, with neither appearing to be referred by VAR. (BBC)
•Photo shows Real Madrid players
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 25, 2019
You may also like...
We Need More Aruna Quadris
Asaba 2023: Team Delta Leads On Medals Table,...
Lamine Yamal vows to bring Champions League to...
Dalung targets ten medals in Rio
Arsenal in danger of losing Sanchez and Ozil...
Tyson Fury claims he will RETIRE from boxing...
AFN VP pledges N1.6m reward for C’wealth Games trials
Joshua warns Prenga ahead July 25 bout
Nigeria’s World Cup absence a big miss – Terry
NOC To Formally Launch Safeguarding Policy On June 16
Messi scores on injury return as Argentina beat Iceland in World Cup warm-up
Iwobi to join Yobo, Enyeama, Musa on 100 Nigeria caps
Omewa happy to open Falcons goal account
World Cup: Enyimba, Remo to benefit from FIFA’s $355m windfall
Nigerian-Born Stars Set to Shine in the US, Canada and Mexico
Omewa brace powers Falcons past Senegal
Joshua open to Itauma fight
NWFL Super Six: Edo Queens’ beat FC Robo 4-1
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,844 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,177 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,125 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,693 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,596 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,494 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,330 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,895 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,076 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,576 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,012 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,454 views)