Real Madrid back on top … as are the VAR rows and talk of conspiracies | Sid Lowe


Out came the accusations and the warriors. After months away, a pandemic, it’s back, alright

On the weekend that Spain moved into the “new normal”, Real Madrid returned to the top of the table and everyone got back to what they missed most: the referees. On Sunday the state of alarm finally ended after 14 long weeks and a more traditional moral panic reappeared in its place. That, and some stuff that was more fun and less noticed. Like a golito from Nolito, the emergency striker Celta signed to replace an injured goalkeeper; a ridiculous golazo from Valencia’s Gonçalo Guedes; another from Leganés’s Óscar Rodriguez; and no goals at all from Barcelona. Not least because when Lionel Messi called, Sevilla stuck six men in the wall, one on the line, and another lying on the floor.

A picture makes it look easy etc and positions shift faster than we appreciate but it does feel like innovation could be met by innovation. Space and free men to be able to play a pass for a pretty clear shot at goal? https://t.co/OsbdSjX6LR

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Januzaj scores for Real Sociedad with a great strike...but it doesn't count!

It's ruled out for offside with Merino deemed to be in an active position in front of Courtois

Karim Benzema then went down the other end a minute later to double Madrid's lead ⚪ pic.twitter.com/vqwAXpQCmJ

Check this out https://t.co/kzbWYLTLap

Related: Striking tributes and Conte's lexicon: Serie A is back in a different world | Nicky Bandini

Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona, Real Mallorca 1-1 Leganés, Granada 0-1 Villarreal, Atlético Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid, Getafe 1-1 Eibar, Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Betis, Espanyol 1-3 Levante, Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid, Valencia 2-0 Osasuna, Celta Vigo 6-0 Alavés.

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