The drama in La Liga’s opening match in 2025 arguably rivalled the excitement of all prior fixtures combined.
It was a great win for Real Madrid, no doubt, but a concerning subplot seems to have been overshadowed by Los Blancos’ sensational comeback. Had Madrid lost, the referee, Soto Grado, might have faced far greater scrutiny for his questionable decisions throughout the match.
At times, his calls appeared so baffling that it almost felt like Valencia had a 12th man on the pitch. By the final whistle, there were at least three major decisions that raised serious doubts about his officiating credibility.
The Questionable Valencia Goal
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the glaring inconsistency in the use of VAR remains deeply troubling. Take Valencia’s opening goal by Hugo Duro, for instance.
During the build-up, there was a clear foul on Rodrygo – one that, by any standard, should have been called. Yet, the referee waved play on, and Valencia capitalized, scoring within the same phase of play.
What’s even more baffling is the decision-making process behind VAR. For reasons unknown, VAR official Muñiz Ruiz saw no grounds to alert the referee to the foul in the build-up.
Moments like these undermine the integrity of the game and leave fans questioning the reliability of a system meant to bring clarity and fairness. This inconsistency is more than an oversight – it’s a recurring issue that demands urgent attention.
Real Madrid Unawarded Penalty Redemption
According to the footballing rulebook, a goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on or behind the goal line until the ball is kicked during a penalty. If this rule is breached, and the penalty is missed or saved, it should be retaken.
In the case of Stole Dimitrievski’s clear encroachment during Jude Bellingham’s penalty, VAR’s failure to alert the referee was another glaring officiating error.
Allowing the play to continue without intervention raises serious questions about the consistency and application of VAR protocols.
The leniency shown in such a pivotal moment adds fuel to suspicions of bias in favour of Valencia, possibly influenced by their precarious position at the bottom of the La Liga table.
While it’s crucial to avoid unfounded accusations, the pattern of decisions in this match leaves room for speculation about whether external factors might have subtly swayed officiating. At the very least, it points to a need for greater accountability and transparency in officiating at the highest level.
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Vinícius Júnior’s Red Card
Undoubtedly the most emotionally charged moment of the match was when the red card was shown. The manner in which Vinícius Júnior’s red card was issued gave the impression that the referee had been waiting for the slightest justification to send him off.
Throughout the game, Vinícius was visibly frustrated, frequently voicing his discontent with the referee’s decisions, albeit subtly. Meanwhile, Valencia’s excessively physical approach seemed to go unchecked, further aggravating the situation.
The pivotal moment came when Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski instigated the controversy. While Vinícius’ reaction warranted a caution, awarding a straight red card felt disproportionate, especially given the numerous fouls Valencia committed without similar repercussions.
Ironically, this was the only instance where VAR decided to intervene and prompt the referee to escalate the decision.
The outcome was an eruption of rage, not just from Vinícius but also from fans who saw the decision as unfair and inconsistent. It shows the broader narrative of perceived officiating biases throughout the match, fueling emotions that turned a heated encounter into a boiling point of frustration.
Luckily for Real Madrid, their never-say-die attitude turned the tide in extraordinary fashion. From the depths of hopelessness, down 1–0 and reduced to ten men, they mounted an incredible comeback to secure a dramatic 2–1 victory.
This triumph, against all odds, made the three points even sweeter, a testament to the reigning champions’ resilience and fighting spirit despite seemingly being up against both Valencia and the officiating.
For the officiating bodies, the result was an unintentional saving grace, as it somewhat muted the uproar over the questionable and seemingly biased decisions made throughout the match.
Had the result gone the other way, the spotlight on the refereeing inconsistencies and perceived favouritism toward Valencia would have been far more intense, raising serious questions about the integrity of the game.