The first Clásico of the 2025/26 season between Real Madrid and Barcelona has generated great expectations, and so far it has not disappointed the fans. The match began with an exciting intensity, marked by goals from both teams and with a show of saves by Wojciech Szczesny, which was key to keeping his team in the game. However, the match was also marked by two plays that sparked controversy and gave a lot to talk about on social media.
From the start of the match, the atmosphere was charged with tension. Just one minute after the start, the referee annulled a penalty in favor of Real Madrid after a foul by Lamine Yamal on Vinicius. The play was quick and many fans were surprised that the maximum penalty was not awarded, considering that the foul was clear. However, the referee decided to review the play and, after consulting the VAR, annulled the decision. This caused a wave of criticism on social networks, especially among Real Madrid fans, who were quick to express their discontent with the decision.
Meanwhile, Barcelona were not far behind in terms of controversies. In a brilliant move by Kylian Mbappé, the French striker scored a spectacular goal that seemed to be a moment of euphoria for the culés. However, the VAR came into action again and annulled the goal for a millimeter offside.
The decision to disallow the goal left Barcelona players and fans stunned, as the margin for error appeared to be minimal. VAR’s rigorous interpretation of offside sparked debate among fans, who argued that the technology was being too strict in this case.
Social networks were quick to react to these two episodes, and the indignation of Real Madrid fans was evident. Comments such as “VARcelona attacks again” went viral, alluding to the supposed favoritism that Barcelona receives from the referees.
Other Real Madrid fans complained that the white team seemed to be playing against 12 players, as they believed that the referee’s decisions clearly favored Barcelona. These comments reflect the frustration and perception of injustice that many Real Madrid fans feel in relation to the refereeing decisions in this Clásico.
On the other hand, Barcelona fans also expressed their anger at the annulment of Mbappé’s goal, arguing that the VAR decision was too rigorous and that the goal should have been validated.
However, the Catalan fans felt somewhat calmer after seeing how their team recovered quickly and achieved a good level of play. Despite the controversy, the match continued with a lot of emotion, and both Real Madrid and Barcelona showed their quality on the field.
Regarding the controversy of the canceled penalty, many Real Madrid fans felt aggrieved by the referee’s decision. Lamine Yamal’s foul on Vinicius was a key moment of the match, and many considered it a clear play to award the penalty. However, the VAR decided to intervene and the decision was revoked. Despite the protests, the VAR’s interpretation was not to award the maximum penalty, which generated even more debate on social media and left many fans with the feeling that Real Madrid had been wronged.
It is important to highlight that, over the years, the Clásicos between Real Madrid and Barcelona have always been full of refereeing controversies, and this match was no exception. The decisions of the referee and the VAR have been constantly analyzed and criticized, as there is always great interest in these matches from the fans of both teams. In this sense, emotions are always on the surface, and any refereeing decision is seen through a critical lens that can influence the perception of the game.
The use of VAR in this Clásico has been especially relevant, since it has been the center of attention during several plays. Although the technology was implemented with the aim of reducing referee errors, its application has been the subject of controversy on several occasions.
In this case, both the disallowed penalty and Mbappé’s goal invalidated by a millimeter offside have raised doubts about the precision and fairness of the VAR in such sensitive situations. The VAR decisions have intensified criticism, reflecting the complexity of its implementation in matches of such magnitude as this one.
Despite the controversies, the match was another example of the intensity and rivalry that exists between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The first Clásico of the 2025/26 season has been a spectacle full of emotion, goals and controversies that will surely remain in the memories of fans.
The refereeing decisions, although questioned, are part of the history of these confrontations, and are likely to continue to be a hot topic in the next Clásicos. The truth is that, regardless of the decisions made, both teams demonstrated once again why they are two of the biggest clubs in the world.
This Clásico has been another chapter in the eternal rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, a rivalry that never fails to generate debate and passion around the world. Although the decisions of the referee and the VAR have been controversial, what is indisputable is that this match has once again highlighted the intensity of one of the most anticipated and exciting duels in world football.
