A controversial VAR ruling on Marc Bartra's encroachment denied Kylian Mbappé a penalty retake in the 93rd minute, proving decisive in Real Madrid's defeat to Real Betis Balompié. The referee, after reviewing the incident on the monitor, upheld goalkeeper Álvaro Valles' save by determining the Betis defender had not touched the grass inside the box at the exact moment of the kick.
Why was the penalty not retaken?
The sequence unfolded in stoppage time of the match played at La Cartuja stadium. Mbappé stepped up to take the spot-kick with a chance to level the score. Álvaro Valles saved the ball, but replays clearly showed Marc Bartra had entered the penalty area perimeter before the Frenchman struck it. However, the VAR review focused on a important technical detail. The video officials determined that, although Bartra lunged forward, his feet were in the air and had not made contact with the grass inside the area at the precise moment of ball impact. Bartra, who was the first player to encroach, ended up clearing the ball for a corner after the initial save.
This strict interpretation of the law, which requires physical contact with the ground inside the prohibited area, changed the game's outcome. Mohamed Saeed, analyzing the play, noted: "A split-second changed everything!"
What is the context around Real Betis?
The victory over Madrid comes at an important moment in Betis's season. The team currently sits third in La Liga, with 9 points from four matches and a record of three wins and one loss (WLWW). They have scored 5 goals and conceded 5, maintaining a zero goal difference. This win provides a morale boost ahead of a tricky away fixture.
Their next league commitment is away against Villarreal on September 14th. The Yellow Submarine currently occupies 15th place, making it a key duel to consolidate a high position in the standings. The team, however, faces this stretch with several significant absences in the squad, which can be checked on the injuries page. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Diego Llorente, and Giovani Lo Celso are currently sidelined.
How did this affect Real Madrid?
For the visiting side, the non-retake of the penalty sealed their first official defeat of the season, ending a streak of three consecutive league wins. Madrid arrived at the match also with their minds on the start of their Champions League campaign next Tuesday. Manager José Mourinho saw how, minutes before the penalty incident, VAR also disallowed a goal from Carlos Espi. The forward, who had come on to replace Federico Valverde, saw his effort ruled out for a marginal offside in the build-up.
Also, Bernardo Silva's absence from the starting eleven for the second game running was another talking point. The combination of these factors, coupled with the final decision on the penalty, made for a frustrating night for the capital side. Betis, on the other hand, showed great defensive resilience in the decisive moments, with Álvaro Valles as the key protagonist between the posts. The Verdiblancos can now focus on their next test at the Cerámica, a match scheduled for September 14th in the fixtures.
