The Referee's Replay: Osasuna Stuns Real Madrid in a 2-1 La Liga Thriller
21 February 2026
Match recap
Osasuna handed Real Madrid a 2-1 defeat in a La Liga clash.
The home side took the lead when a first-half penalty, awarded after a VAR check, was calmly converted by Ante Budimir in the 38th minute.
In the 25th minute, a controversial moment arose when a Madrid defender's hand appeared to block a potential goal, but the referee did not award a penalty to Osasuna.
Osasuna pressed for another spot-kick, but the referee's decision stood, prompting protests from the visitors.
Analysts on the platform Archivio Far argued the decision was correct, noting the handball appeared irregular but not punishable under the circumstances, and that the VAR review was fast.
Under the microscope
The episode reignited debate over video assistance and the pace of reviews, while Osasuna climbed in the league table and Madrid left with a sour taste in the mouth.
Punchline 1: If VAR did stand-up, its timing would be perfect—deliberate, precise, and somehow still punching the crowd with a second replay.
Punchline 2: Real Madrid’s defense is so organized that even a ball knows to wait for the whistle before sneaking in—talk about scripts written in penalty-area ink.
