In Seville, a fierce contest turned on a moment that may linger longer than the scoreline. Real Madrid found their breakthrough after Arda Güler escaped with a yellow card for an off-the-ball clash involving Peque, then delivered a superb strike from outside the area only minutes later.
The disputed incident arrived before the half-hour, with the ball nowhere near either player. Peque had been pulling at Güler’s shirt and the Turkish midfielder reacted by catching him in the face with an elbow. Players from both sides quickly gathered as tempers rose.
Mateo Busquets Ferrer chose a caution rather than a dismissal for Güler. The incident was checked by VAR, but the referee was not sent to the pitchside monitor despite the visible contact. That decision was certain to leave frustration in Andalusia, particularly given what followed.
Rather than heading for the dressing room after a possible red card, Güler stayed on the pitch and put Real Madrid ahead shortly afterwards. He sent a curling, angled effort from beyond the penalty area into the top corner, a finish of considerable quality and one made all the more significant by the earlier controversy.
For Real Madrid, whose complaints about officiating have often been a recurring part of the season’s background noise, there was little to protest about on this occasion. Sevilla, meanwhile, were left to consider an incident that could have altered the entire afternoon before Güler’s decisive contribution.
