Real Madrid's position at the top of LaLiga has come under threat following a surprising defeat to Espanyol. This loss has significantly narrowed their lead, leaving them just one point ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. The rivalry between the two Madrid clubs has intensified leading up to the highly anticipated Madrid derby, which will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu this Saturday. Atletico Madrid has not missed this opportunity to taunt their city rivals on social media, adding fuel to an already heated contest.
Real Madrid had been enjoying a successful run, having won four consecutive LaLiga games before the setback against Espanyol. However, the recent defeat has sparked controversy and complaints from the club. Real Madrid expressed their grievances by refusing to attend a meeting called by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) with LaLiga clubs and refereeing representatives. In a letter addressed to RFEF President Rafael Louzan, Real Madrid demanded the release of VAR audio related to incidents in the game against Espanyol, arguing that "The events of this game have exceeded any margin of human error or refereeing interpretation."
"The events of this game have exceeded any margin of human error or refereeing interpretation." – Real Madrid
The letter further criticized the refereeing system, claiming that decisions have reached a level of manipulation detrimental to the competition's integrity.
"What happened at the RCDE Stadium represents the culmination of a completely discredited refereeing system, in which decisions against Real Madrid have reached manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored." – Real Madrid
In response, LaLiga plans to take legal action against Real Madrid for their accusations. Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, dismissed these claims, accusing Real Madrid of constructing a false narrative.
"That is the reality. Real Madrid want to damage the competition, not just the referees. They have constructed a narrative of victimhood that culminated in the statement they released the other day. It is not true." – Javier Tebas
"They have lost their minds… Football doesn't revolve around Real Madrid." – Javier Tebas
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid celebrated their recent 2-0 victory over Mallorca, further narrowing the gap with their city rivals. They took to social media to poke fun at Real Madrid by asking the Royal Spanish Academy for definitions of certain verbs, which many perceived as a subtle jab at their rivals' current predicament. The social media banter underscores the fierce competition and rivalry that exists between these two clubs.
The upcoming Madrid derby is crucial for both teams as they compete for dominance in LaLiga, with Barcelona looming in third place on 45 points. The derby's significance is heightened by ongoing tensions and the backdrop of the Negreira case, where Barcelona faces historical charges of corruption.
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