“Another robbery, balls of steel” – Fans divided as Julian Alavrez scores panenka penalty against Real Madrid

Real Madrid fans were left fuming after Julian Alvarez's controversial penalty helped Atletico Madrid draw 1-1 against the Los Blancos.

“Another robbery, balls of steel” – Fans divided as Julian Alavrez scores panenka penalty against Real Madrid

Julian Alvarez scored a controversial penalty against Real Madrid, helping his side draw 1-1. (via YouTube)

Real Madrid players and fans were left fuming after a controversial penalty decision saw the Los Blancos drop points in a crucial La Liga encounter against city-rivals Atletico Madrid. Julian Alvarez slotted home a brilliant panenka penalty in the first half of the match.

The first Madrid derby of the year ended with a dismal 1-1 scoreline. It came after a heated 90 minutes, which saw both teams go all out to claim all three points. Real Madrid had fallen 1-0 behind in the first half, thanks to a 35th minute penalty from Julian Alvarez. However, the hosts claimed an impressive comeback to make it 1-1 in the second-half through Kylian Mbappe‘s goal.

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The build-up to the Madrid derby was dominated by Real Madrid’s demands for refereeing reforms. The match was not bereft of controversy after Atletico was awarded a penalty. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni reached out for the ball inside the box but caught Samuel Lino in the process, bringing him down. After a long, drawn-out VAR check, the Frenchman’s contact was deemed a foul.

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Referee Cesar Soto Grado quickly pointed to the spot. It came despite calls from Real Madrid players that the ball was gone, and the foul was unintentional. Interestingly, Soto Grado was the same guy, who had sent-off Vinicius Jr. earlier this season, for a foul against Valencia. Nonetheless, Julian Alvarez calmly chipped the penalty through the middle of the goal to help Atleti take a lead into the match.

Meanwhile, it was the first penalty awarded against Real Madrid this season in La Liga, something that has been endlessly debated. Los Blancos, on the other hand, have scored an astonishing eight penalties this season, way more than any other team.

Fans react to Julian Alvarez’s controversial penalty during Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s match against Atletico Madrid ended in a disappointing draw for the home side, who claimed to be victims of poor officiating. Julian Alvarez’s 35th minute penalty against the Los Blancos was a controversial one.

Julian Alvarez penalty fans
Fans reacted to Julian Alvarez’s panenka penalty against Real Madrid. (via X)

Alvarez’s brilliant panenka penalty left fans and social media users divided. Some fans emphatically stated that Argentine has ‘balls of steel’, while others praised him for fooling keeper Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid fans, however, claimed that the club was ‘robbed’ of a win. They went on to state a win that could have seen them take a lead in the Spanish league table.

Real Madrid will be hoping to bounce back from this recent disappointment when they next face Manchester City in the UCL play-offs. The 15-time winners will hope to remain in contention to retain their European crown.