Manchester United vs. Real Madrid Controversy: Red Card Cost Red Devils Victory

The heated rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester United just got a little more intense.

With a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute of their Tuesday matchup, the Red Devils seemed to be in control—at least until winger Luis Nani was sent off with a controversial red card, leaving United with an 11-10 disadvantage for the final 30-plus minutes (per FOX Sports).

Real Madrid used the one-man advantage to their favor. With an extra player, Los Blancos was able to turn up their aggression with two consecutive goals, swaying the momentum en route to a 2-1 victory.

The call against Nani was the turning point in the match, and it was a penalty that never should have been assessed. Here’s a look at the controversial call.

There certainly didn’t appear to be any malicious intent in Nani challenging for the loose ball—despite a decent acting job on the part of Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa. Nani’s cleat barely made contact with Arbeloa’s ribs, and while his foot was clearly above his waist, there was no need for the referee to display a red card as a result.

It’s hard to downplay the huge shift in momentum that took place in wake of Nani’s departure. After the call, Real Madrid completely turned the tables.

Here is a graphic of each club’s touches following the red card (courtesy of Paul Carr of ESPN):

Los Blancos went on the attack, completely dominating with an aggressive offensive approach facilitated by a one-man advantage. The Red Devils simply could not recover, and a 2-1 loss was the result.

While Nani’s red card was the turning point in the match, Real Madrid still deserves credit for a big win at Old Trafford. Los Blancos played fantastic football, and the 11-10 advantage was almost a disservice considering how much attention it took away from an outstanding match on the part of both clubs.

Apart from Sergio Ramos’ opening own goal, there’s a lot of good to be taken away from the match. United and Madrid are two of the best attacking clubs in Europe, and both lived up to the hype for much of the contest.

In the end, Real Madrid’s victory will likely be remembered by a momentum-shifting foul and a questionable call, but the match still proved to be as entertaining as expected, and it will no doubt serve to strengthen a terrific rivalry going forward.