Karim Benzema’s equalising goal against Chelsea SHOULD NOT have counted, argue Spanish media, as refereeing expert insists Casemiro fouls Cesar Azpilicueta in build-up
Real Madrid‘s equalising goal in their Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea should have been chalked off.
That is the opinion of a refereeing expert in Spain who feels Zinedine Zidane’s side were fortunate match official Danny Makkelie did not spot what they felt was a foul in the build-up.
‘Casemiro commits a foul on [Cesar] Azpilicueta before [Eder] Militao heads to Benzema, who scores,’ Juan Andujar Oliver, a refereeing expert in Spain, told Radio Marca.
A subsequent poll on Marca’s website saw 48 per cent of voters go against Andujar Oliver’s verdict by insisting it was not a foul by Casemiro.
A short corner was taken by Toni Kroos to team-mate Luka Modric, who in turn picked out Marcelo on the edge of the box.
As part of the routine, Marcelo lofted the ball to Casemiro at the back post and the midfielder muscled his way above Azpilicueta to head across the box.
Azpilicueta buckled under Casemiro’s flight and Eder Militao’s flick on from Casemiro fell to Benzema, who hammered it past a helpless Edouard Mendy.
Makkelie came under pressure in the build-up to the match in the Spanish media with growing fears that Real Madrid’s leading role in trying to establish a breakaway European Super League would hurt them in the two legs against Chelsea.
The referee showed a great deal of leniency in treacherous conditions and if Andujar Oliver is to be believed, Real Madrid have Makkelie to thank for not ruling out what could prove to be a crucial goal in the balance of the tie.
More to follow.
