Real Madrid Beats Real Sociedad, but Red Card Sparks Controversy
Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the 2025–26 La Liga season with a hard-fought two goals to one victory over Real Sociedad at Anoeta. However, the match was marred by a controversial red card shown to young defender Dean Huijsen in the 32nd minute, a decision that has ignited widespread debate. What was the cost of this victory to keep Real Madrid’s hot streak this season going after slowly ramping up in the offseason into the first few games of this season? This Real Madrid squad has shown they are overcoming their growing pains when they can perform even from a position where the cards are stacked against them. Another question asked is what Real Madrid’s response will be to the controversial decision to give Huijsen a red card for what many called an overreach by the referee.
The pivotal moment occurred when Huijsen fouled Mikel Oyarzabal just inside Madrid's half. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano deemed the challenge a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity and issued a straight red card. The decision was met with immediate protests from Madrid's bench, with head coach Xabi Alonso receiving a yellow card for his dissent. Alonso later confronted Manzano, questioning the rationale behind the decision and highlighting Éder Militão's positioning as a mitigating factor. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of VAR intervention, suggesting the incident warranted a yellow card instead. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Real Madrid took the lead in the 12th minute through Kylian Mbappé. The Turkish wonderkid Arda Güler doubled the advantage just before halftime with a well-taken goal. Real Sociedad pulled one back in the 56th minute via a penalty from Oyarzabal, awarded after a handball by Dani Carvajal. Madrid's defense, led by Éder Militão and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, held firm to secure the three points.
The red card decision has been widely criticized. Spain's Referee Committee reviewed the incident and concluded that Huijsen's foul did not meet the criteria for a red card. However, they agreed with the referee's decision not to involve VAR, stating that the on-field decision was not a clear and obvious error. Real Madrid is reportedly preparing a dossier to submit to FIFA, highlighting concerns over refereeing decisions in both the current and previous La Liga seasons. The club aims to address perceived inconsistencies and advocate for improved officiating standards.
While Real Madrid's victory maintains their perfect record, the controversy surrounding Dean Huijsen's red card has overshadowed the team's performance. The incident raises important questions about consistency in officiating and the application of VAR in La Liga. As the season progresses, this debate is likely to continue. Both fans and officials will be keenly observing how similar situations are handled in the future.
