Real Madrid’s Dramatic Comeback Stuns Almeria in Bernabeu Thriller

The Santiago Bernabeu, usually a fortress of footballing dominance for Real Madrid, witnessed a spectacle of unexpected twists and turns on Sunday afternoon. Almeria, languishing at the bottom of La Liga, came within touching distance of a monumental upset before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat in a dramatic finale that left emotions boiling over on both sides.

Bernabeu Shock: Almeria’s Lightning Start Stuns Real Madrid

It was a start as shocking as a cold shower on a Madrid morning. A mere 38 seconds after the whistle blew, Lucas Robertone found the unmarked Largie Ramazani with a precise pass, and the Almeria striker coolly slotted the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga, silencing the home crowd into stunned disbelief. The script hadn’t been written with such an opening act, but Almeria were penning their own unexpected verse.

Things went from bad to worse for Real Madrid as Edgar Gonzalez unleashed a half-volley missile from outside the box in the 43rd minute. It flew past a surprised Kepa, doubling Almeria’s lead and leaving the Bernabeu in a state of disbelief. The Galacticos, expected to waltz past their struggling opponents, were on the ropes, facing a humiliating home defeat against the league’s cellar dwellers.

Real’s Redemption

But football, as they say, is a game of two halves. The second half saw a transformed Real Madrid emerge from the dressing room. The introduction of Rodrygo injected some much-needed energy into their attack, and the momentum began to shift. A controversial penalty decision in the 57th minute presented Jude Bellingham with his chance to put Real back in the game. The young Englishman, cool as ice, sent Luis Maximiano the wrong way, converting the spot-kick to ignite a spark of hope in the stands.

The drama was far from over. Almeria thought they had re-established their two-goal cushion when Sergio Arribas tapped in from Ramazani’s cross. But the VAR, a constant companion throughout the afternoon, intervened once again, ruling out the goal for offside. The Bernabeu, now roaring with renewed belief, sensed the tide turning.

Vinicius Jr.’s Controversial Goal

Vinicius Jr. then wrote his name onto the scoresheet with a goal of equal controversy. His initial effort was disallowed for handball, but a review by the referee at the pitchside monitor reversed the decision, sending the home crowd into raptures. The Bernabeu had found its voice, and the comeback was well and truly on.

With tempers flaring and frustration mounting, Gaizka Garitano, the Almeria manager, saw red for a second yellow card, adding to the growing sense of chaos on the pitch. The drama spilled over into the stands as well, with Almeria players and staff expressing their discontent with the VAR decisions.

Amidst the cacophony, Real Madrid found the winner in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. In the ninth minute of added time, a deep cross from a counter-attack landed perfectly at the feet of Bellingham. The Englishman, with a deft header, directed the ball towards the far post, where Dani Carvajal pounced like a predator, poking it home from close range. The Bernabeu erupted, a cauldron of jubilant relief after a rollercoaster of emotions.

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VAR Controversy Lingers

The final whistle was met with contrasting reactions. Real Madrid, relieved and ecstatic, celebrated their hard-fought victory, while Almeria players and staff slumped to the ground, their heads bowed in a mixture of anger and despair. Gonzalo Melero, the Almeria midfielder, summed up their feelings poignantly, stating, “We were robbed… Nothing more could have been done for them to win the game.”

Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager, acknowledged the contentious nature of the game, saying, “I understand Almeria’s anger with the VAR decisions, but I think they were well judged.” However, he couldn’t hide his relief at the comeback, admitting, “It was a strange game, the first half was very bad. I judged yesterday’s training session poorly, it was a tired team.”