Real Madrid were left fuming after a late penalty drama denied them a chance to rescue a point against Real Betis on Friday night, as Kylian Mbappé was not allowed a retake despite clear encroachment by Marc Bartra.
The 1-0 defeat at La Cartuja marked Los Blancos’ first LaLiga loss of the season.
Referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández pointed to the spot in the 93rd minute following a foul on Vinicius Junior. Mbappé stepped up looking to level the score, only for goalkeeper Álvaro Valles to push his effort away.
VAR then reviewed the incident after Bartra appeared to enter the penalty area before the ball was struck. Replays shown by Mundo Deportivo confirmed Bartra was the first player to breach the box and ultimately cleared the rebound for a corner following Valles’ save.
However, a technicality regarding the exact positioning of Bartra’s feet at the moment of impact proved decisive. Officials ruled that the encroachment did not meet the criteria for a retake, leaving Real Madrid empty-handed.
