😭 Mbappé’s Nightmare
Despite the victory, the biggest talking point after the match was not Real Madrid’s three points but the controversy surrounding referee Sanchez Martinez. Kylian Mbappé twice found the back of the net, only to have both goals disallowed after VAR reviews.
The decisions visibly infuriated Alonso. At the final whistle, the Spaniard stormed straight toward the referee, his face tense as he demanded an explanation. Journalist Jose Padilla revealed that Alonso even continued arguing with officials after leaving the pitch.
The frustration extended beyond the Real Madrid bench. On social media platform X, user @YasujiroOficial sarcastically posted:
“This is the third time in La Liga history that VAR has canceled three goals for the same team in one match. Guess which team has been the victim all three times? Enough said.”
Many fans echoed the sentiment, arguing that Real Madrid are repeatedly disadvantaged by technology and refereeing decisions.
Mbappé has lost quite a few goals to offside calls.
However, to be fair, today’s officiating technology is extremely precise, with near-zero margin for error. In many cases, Mbappé’s own lack of positional awareness is the reason he keeps getting caught offside.
This is not the first time the 1998-born striker has suffered such heartbreak. In last season’s El Clásico (round 11 of the 2024/25 campaign), Mbappé had two goals disallowed for offside against Barcelona. That night, the former PSG star set an unwanted record with a total of eight offsides, the highest in a single La Liga match over the last 15 seasons. Spanish media dubbed his first El Clásico a “Halloween nightmare come early.”
Two disallowed goals in big games suggest Mbappé has yet to learn his lesson. Unless he improves his positioning and synchronicity with teammates, the specter of “ghost goals” will continue to haunt his Real Madrid journey.
⚽ Back to Barca Trouble
In less than two months, the first El Clásico of the season will kick off. For Mbappé, this is not just another high-profile clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona—it’s a chance to rise again at the very venue where he previously fell.
Since taking over Barcelona last summer, Hansi Flick has transformed the team’s high defensive line from a risky gamble into a finely tuned weapon. Last season, Barcelona caught their opponents offside 126 times in La Liga—more than any other club in Europe. This figure is nearly double that of the Premier League leader (Brighton with 66) and Bundesliga leader (Stuttgart with 54).
“It might look dangerous, but it isn’t. If anyone drops even a meter too deep, I’ll sub them out immediately,” Flick emphasized about his philosophy.
Barcelona’s offside trap remains a nightmare for Mbappé.
This season, there is no reason for Barca to abandon their deadly tactic—in fact, they’ve refined it even further. Evidence came in a pre-season friendly against Daegu FC in Asia, where they forced five offsides in just the first 20 minutes. The discipline, coordination between defenders and goalkeeper, and quick reading of play suggest the system is sharper than ever.
Against this backdrop, Mbappé’s task in the upcoming El Clásico is even more daunting. If he doesn’t find a way to beat the offside trap, the 26-year-old could once again become Barcelona’s favorite victim. To turn the tables and become Barca’s nightmare instead, Mbappé must sharpen his positional sense and adjust every run to escape the trap that has repeatedly silenced him.