The draw between Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal at the Metropolitano left several controversial plays that have sparked debate among fans and experts. Among them, the penalty called on Reinildo Mandava and the incident where Ángel Correa collided with Villarreal's goalkeeper, Luiz Junior. Gonzalo Miró, during the broadcast of Tiempo de Juego on COPE, analyzed both plays, leaving reflections that have ignited social media.
Reinildo's Penalty Play
The first major controversy of the match came in the 27th minute when Alex Baena sent a cross into the area that Axel Witsel failed to clear precisely. This left the ball loose, and in an attempt to clear it, Reinildo brought down Gerard Moreno. Sánchez Martínez didn't hesitate to point to the penalty spot, a decision that the VAR, led by Javier Iglesias Villanueva, didn't overturn.
Pedro Martín, a refereeing specialist for Tiempo de Juego, considered that although it was not a "clear penalty," the referee's decision was understandable. "If Reinildo had cleared it initially, there could have been arguments not to call a penalty. Since he didn't, and when he returned, he slightly touched the ball but brought down the Villarreal player first, I understand why a penalty was called."
Gonzalo Miró, analyzing this action, noted: "There are several people who argue the same thing to me about this penalty. They compare it because, in both plays, one is called and the other is not, even though both reach the ball first."
Correa's Collision with Luiz Junior
The second controversial play came in the 35th minute when Ángel Correa collided with Luiz Junior in the Villarreal area. The red-and-white players claimed a penalty, while Villarreal's players called for a foul in favor of the goalkeeper. Sánchez Martínez didn't call anything, leaving the action unpunished.
Regarding this play, Miró was blunt: "The goalkeeper's incident doesn't seem like one to me in any way, but they tell you it's both or neither. If Reinildo's with Gerard had been in the other area, I would have asked for it."
The commentator also reflected on a common belief among fans: "Many times they say that if they touch the ball first, it can't be a penalty, but it is evident that Reinildo touches the ball. Even so, I understand that it can be called because there is also contact with the player."