Real Madrid remain unstoppable at the start of the season. Xabi Alonso’s side beat Espanyol 2-0 thanks to goals from Éder Militão and Kylian Mbappé, who is now LaLiga’s top scorer with five goals. However, beyond the victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, the match was marked by a controversial incident involving young Argentine Franco Mastantuono.

A challenge that sparked debate

In the 74th minute, Mastantuono raised his left leg too high while contesting a loose ball and ended up striking Carlos Romero in the face with his studs. The Espanyol player fell immediately and required medical attention due to facial bleeding.

Despite the severity of the action and protests from the visitors, the referee only showed a yellow card to the Madrid youngster, sparking intense debate among fans and pundits. Many recalled that on the opening matchday, Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi was sent off with a straight red for a very similar challenge on former Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, now playing for Barcelona.

Comparisons and criticism

The contrast between both refereeing decisions opened a new chapter in LaLiga’s ongoing officiating controversies. For Espanyol’s camp, the sanction against Mastantuono was too lenient, while Muriqi’s case was judged much more harshly under almost identical circumstances.

The incident lit up social media and generated divided opinions in the sports press: some argue Mastantuono’s contact was accidental and part of a natural contest for the ball, while others believe the lack of consistency in refereeing criteria remains a recurring problem in Spanish football.

Madrid win, but the controversy lingers

From a purely sporting perspective, Real Madrid secured their sixth straight win across LaLiga and the Champions League, cementing their leadership. However, Mastantuono’s challenge threatens to overshadow yet another victory for the Merengues.

The lingering question is whether the Competition Committee will review the incident, or if it will simply remain another yellow card in a match that, although dominated by Madrid, ended with controversy as the main talking point.