Three Reds, One Ref: Madrid's La Liga Lead Faces a Card-Happy Osasuna Showdown
20 February 2026
Match Preview
Real Madrid heads to Osasuna on Saturday with the aim of extending their lead in La Liga. The clash at the Sadar Stadium marks the 25th round of the season as Madrid look to maintain top spot in a tense title race.
Referee Spotlight
Marca reports that the Andalusian official Quintero Gonzalez is set to take charge, returning to a night that Madrid fans would rather forget after his previous appearance at the Bernabéu against Celta Vigo. That game ended in a 2-0 loss for Madrid and drew sharp criticism from the club’s media channel over the officiating.
In that match, three red cards were shown to Franco Garcia, Carrias, and Endrick who was on the bench. It remains Madrid’s only home defeat of the season, a result that sparked a heated reaction from the club’s broadcasters and supporters alike.
The post-match broadcasts alleged that the referee showed a surprising level of favoritism, suggesting he was guided by a script from the era of Negreira, even as he is a new official trying to make his mark. The referee’s report also mentions an exchange with Dani Carvajal after the final whistle, including the line, “This is the level you bring… then you cry later at the press conference.”
According to the report, another moment with Carvajal followed as he left the tunnel area without his training kit, challenging the official with a pointed remark about the standard of officiating. The Madrid-Osasuna clash, therefore, arrives amid questions about refereeing consistency and its potential impact on the title race.
Ultimately, Madrid seek a strong response in a match that could shape the remainder of the campaign, while Osasuna aim to frustrate the leaders and capitalize on any officiating ambiguity. Punchline time: If referees started collecting cards like loyalty points, Madrid would already have enough to eclipse a black belt in card-throwing. And if you think about it, the only thing standing between Madrid and a straight path to the title is a whistle, a map, and a very generous interpretation of the rules.
