The law of compensation propels the Royal

One of the most agonizing victories that are remembered in Anoeta in recent times propels Real in its race through Europe. Isak scored from a penalty in stoppage time after a signal from the referee disputed by Espanyol, in a push by Calero on Merino that the referee charged half an hour after annulling a goal against Sorloth that seemed legal. The compensation law fell to the side txuri urdin.

The first Monday of the entire League for Real was a lazy start. Like the start of the week for the rest of mortals, but within a rectangle reduced by Espanyol. The Catalans’ tactic was to reduce spaces and the idea did not sit well with Real.

And that Imanol reacted by printing speed on the ‘eleven’ in the first game at Anoeta without Mikel Oyarzabal, applauded in the 10th minute by the respectable player from Anoeta. Isak played low to the left, with Sorloth leading the way. The other great novelty was seeing Merino on the bench. Rafinha and Silva inaugurated a pair in midfield, escorted by the brilliant Zubimendi.

La Real went to rest with the disappointment of having starred in a repetitive monologue. Too tiresome for that of diluting her clear domain on the balcony of the parakeet area. There, in the decisive zone, Silva, Isak and Portu’s lights went out. Sorloth didn’t even make an appearance.

Zubimendi and Silva had the goal in their hands, but Oier Olazabal conjured up his chances, inside the box, giving meaning to the hero theory against the former. Espanyol’s danger was exclusively in strategic actions. Two, specifically. Cabebra finished off near the post and Puado, in a chopped header, put Remiro in trouble a minute before the break. The ball bounced so much that it went over the top.

Controversial goal disallowed

Sorloth had found the password for the goal five minutes after the restart. The Norwegian put a center by David Silva into the net and Real celebrated this little miracle that scoring meant. Until Jaime Latre was invited to see the VAR monitor. And he pointed out something that 20,869 did not see live. Sorloth’s foul on Cabrerea. A push while the play was cooking before the auction. A controversial decision that did not seem to reach the necessary gravity to annul a goal.

Anoeta protested to Jaime Latre and Real was hurt by the intervention of a Jaime Latre who became provocative in the arbitration. Rico shot from a distance, just above, and Isak looked for the goal in an impossible personal drive. Merino and Djouahra, who came out for Rafinha and Portu, gave resources to Real, stuck in general terms.

When the game was doomed to draw, Jaime Latre returned to the scene. To the very close-up, pointing out Calero’s penalty to Mikel Merino in extra time. A contact that was clearer than the previous one from Cabrera to Sorloth. He consulted the referee with the VAR, but without going to see him, and ratified the eleven meters. Isak scored with his soul and the victory, not only adjusted, but it was agonizing. It is worth six points away from the seventh.