Real Madrid claimed a vital 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash, but the win was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Brahim Diaz’s decisive goal.
The match at Santiago Bernabéu began with an early breakthrough from Rodrygo, who capitalized on a long ball from Federico Valverde, weaving past two defenders before firing past Jan Oblak with a clinical strike.
Atletico responded swiftly, with Julian Álvarez equalizing after linking up with Antoine Griezmann, setting the stage for an intense and tightly contested encounter.
Brahim Diaz’s Disputed Winner
The decisive moment arrived when Brahim Diaz found the back of the net to restore Real Madrid’s lead.
However, the goal quickly became the subject of heated debate due to the positioning of Vinicius Jr. at the time of the shot.
Many observers argued that the Brazilian forward was in an offside position and obstructed Oblak’s line of sight.
Pavel Fernandez, a refereeing analyst for Radio Marca, remarked: “There is a positional offside on Brahim’s goal. Vinicius is a metre and a half away from Oblak and obstructs his view.”
However, others disagreed. Miguel Ángel Méndez, also speaking on Radio Marca, countered: “For me, Vinicius watches the game and does not interfere.
At no time does he cover Oblak’s vision.” Enrique Marqués echoed this sentiment, saying: “Turpin is one of the best referees in the world.
In Spain, we tend to judge with still photos, but in motion, there is nothing to report.”
Atletico’s Silence
Despite the uproar, Atletico Madrid have not issued an official complaint regarding the decision. Coach Diego Simeone, known for his outspoken nature, opted not to comment on the matter in his post-match interview.
The result gives Real Madrid a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg, but the lingering controversy is likely to fuel further debate as the two sides prepare to face off once more.
