Ancelotti Expresses Frustration Over Disputed Referee Decision in Real Madrid's Draw Against Vallecano

Madrid, Dec 15 (NationPress) Real Madrid made a stunning recovery from a 0-2 deficit to finish in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday (IST) at the Estadio de Vallecas. Despite the impressive comeback, Carlo Ancelotti voiced his frustration over a contentious penalty decision when Vinicius Jr. was fouled in the box.

The drama unfolded in the 75th minute with the score tied at 3-3, as Vini Jr. was brought down inside the penalty area by Mumin, yet referee Martinez Munuera chose not to award a penalty kick.

"The penalty was quite evident to me," Ancelotti remarked during the post-match press conference. He noted that Vini Jr. had not started due to having played a full 90 minutes in the Champions League and, following his injury, the plan was to have him participate in the second half when the intensity was expected to be lower. "Vini performed well, created opportunities, and had a strong game," he added.

The home team took an early lead just four minutes into the match, with Unai Lopez scoring the first goal. They extended their advantage to 2-0 in the 36th minute when a corner from Isi Palazon was headed into the net by Abdul Mumin.

Valverde responded three minutes later with a spectacular long-distance strike that brought one goal back for the visitors. Madrid continued their assault as Bellingham found the net with a stunning header on the verge of half-time, leveling the game.

The second half began in a different fashion. The home side's momentum slowed, allowing Real Madrid to seize the opportunity to complete their comeback in the 56th minute with a left-footed shot from Rodrygo from the edge of the box. However, this lead would last only eight minutes, as Isi leveled the score again.

"It was a fair draw. I felt quite anxious in our matches against Mallorca and Las Palmas, but not today. Today, I observed a cohesive team. We played a comprehensive game. We made errors, as otherwise, we could have won 3-0. Our team lacks height; Rudiger and Tchouameni are strong upfront, but our full-backs are not particularly tall. At times, one must endure, and in this instance, we faced challenges," he concluded.