Real Madrid extended their perfect start to the new 2025/26 La Liga season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet, the night will be remembered less for the three points and more for the chaos surrounding three disallowed goals.

The tension reached a boiling point when referee Sáanchez Martínez, urged by VAR official Pulido Santana, cancelled what looked like Madrid’s third and decisive goal.

The decision left the Bernabeu fuming, with loud whistles echoing through the stadium. For many fans, the sense of injustice overshadowed the result itself.

Despite all that drama, Real Madrid managed to come out on top. On that note, let’s take a look at three instances from the match that you might have missed.

Referees rarely get a warm welcome at the Bernabeu, but Saturday’s scenes went a step further.

The three disallowed goals, particularly the first for a razor-thin offside and the third for a handball by Arda Guler, sparked outrage.

The atmosphere inside the ground grew increasingly hostile, with chants and boos erupting each time a decision went against Madrid.

The biggest talking point was Güuler’s strike, ruled out because the ball brushed his arm after a rebound from Mallorca’s goalkeeper Leo Roman.

The rulebook is clear that if the ball touches an attacking player’s hand directly before a goal, it must be disallowed.

Still, fans responded with biting sarcasm, shouting “cut off Guler’s arms” in protest. The young Turk, who had celebrated the goal with Franco Mastantuono in a fun mate-drinking gesture, saw his joy taken away.

The refereeing drama deepened after reports surfaced that Gonzáalez Fuertes, originally appointed as the VAR assistant, had been replaced following his mistake in Alaves vs Atlético Madrid.

His failure to spot an obvious offside goal in that match led the Technical Committee of Referees to remove him from duty.

In his place came Pulido Santana, who ended up at the centre of the storm in Madrid.

Real Madrid’s narrow 2-1 lead against Mallorca could have slipped away had it not been for a moment of brilliance from Alvaro Carreras.

With the Bernabeu crowd holding its breath, Samu Costa’s effort seemed destined for the back of the net, Courtois already beaten and the equaliser almost certain.

Yet Carreras, alert and determined, appeared at just the right moment to clear the ball off the line.

His action not only prevented Mallorca from drawing level but also highlighted his growing reputation for composure and reliability in the most dangerous situations.

Even Courtois, who had been caught out of position, immediately acknowledged Carreras’ rescue, raising a hand in gratitude to his teammate for keeping Madrid ahead.

Despite this crucial save, the incident temporarily unsettled the team. Mallorca, sensing weakness, enjoyed their best spell of the match, pressing forward with intensity and forcing Madrid into moments of discomfort.

Their aggression nearly paid off, but Carreras’ intervention ensured the balance did not shift.

Recognising the danger, Alonso acted quickly from the sidelines, demanding focus and tactical adjustments to regain control.

Madrid knew that allowing Mallorca to equalise would undo their hard work, so discipline became the priority.

While the refereeing stole headlines, Xabi Alonso’s squad also faced scrutiny. Each game feels like a test under the new system, where Alonso prefers flexibility over fixed roles.

As such, Vinicius Jr.’s form has swung from frustration against Osasuna to an explosive cameo as a substitute, and finally to a goalscoring performance that silenced doubts.

His passionate character means he is never far from the spotlight.

Rodrygo, however, is now the one under pressure. Greeted by lukewarm whistles when his name was announced, he struggled to produce anything meaningful during the match.

Despite operating on the left side, he continues to look overshadowed by Vinícius, with fans growing impatient.

Another player facing questions is Dani Ceballos. His career at Madrid remains stuck in a loop – openings appear, but he never fully seizes them.

With Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham soon returning from injury, Ceballos’ minutes could shrink even further.

Ironically, Madrid’s next Champions League opponent is Olympique de Marseille, the only club outside Spain that once showed serious interest in him.