Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouameni, the French midfielder, vented his frustration after the referee decision by Jesus Gil Manzano in Valencia’s Mestalla during the 27th round of the championship. The moment amplified the tension surrounding a clash that featured late drama and high stakes for both teams. Tchouameni expressed his disappointment on the social network X, posting a message that echoed a sentiment shared by many players and fans who felt the whistle did not reflect the action on the pitch.
The match, hosted by Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, finished in a 2:2 draw. A decisive moment arrived when Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s English midfielder, headed the ball into the net in the 99th minute, only for the referee to blow the final whistle just as the ball crossed the line. Bellingham immediately confronted the decision, leading to a direct red card for dissent. An incident involving visiting defender Antonio Rudiger followed, resulting in his sending off as well and underscoring the combustible atmosphere that sometimes surrounds late-game refereeing decisions.
With this result, Real Madrid remained at the top of the table, earning 65 points from 26 matches, while Valencia sat in ninth place with 36 points after 25 rounds. The dynamic between the teams at this stage of the season reflected a race for both league security and European qualification spots, with every point carrying amplified significance in the build-up to the business end of the campaign.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid were scheduled to return home in the next round to host Celta Vigo, a fixture slated for March 10, while Valencia prepared to invite Getafe to the Mestalla on March 9. The day-to-day narrative around the club and the league continued to be shaped not only by results but also by debates about officiating, the handling of on-pitch incidents, and the consequences for players who react to decisions under pressure.
In the aftermath, former Real Madrid players who were present on the day faced a tense scene as security moved to manage the crowd and calm emotions around the stadium. The episode highlighted the fragility of mood in football when late drama collides with contentious decisions, and it added another chapter to the ongoing conversation about how refereeing decisions influence match outcomes, player behavior, and the perception of fairness in one of the sport’s most watched leagues.