A Dani Carvajal goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time salvaged Real Madrid, giving them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom-place Almeria on Sunday in a tense LaLiga clash marred by VAR controversy.
Real went to the top of the LaLiga standings with 51 points, two ahead of Girona, who visit Sevilla later on Sunday.
Almeria, who had gone winless in 21 LaLiga games this season, took a two-goal lead with a quick strike from Largie Ramazani in the first minute and a magnificent volley from distance by Edgar Gonzalez in a disastrous first half for Real Madrid, who had no shots on target.
Carlo Ancelotti, a clearly unhappy Real manager, did not return to the changing room with his players during the break and instead made three changes to open the second half, giving his team a boost.
With Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham putting pressure, Real cut the lead in the 56th minute with a Bellingham penalty awarded for a questionable handball following a lengthy VAR review.
However, Almeria had a Sergio Arribas counter-attack attempt called out a little later following another lengthy VAR review.
Referee Francisco Maeso concluded there was an infraction in the buildup when Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy was severely assessed to have fouled Bellingham after catching him in the face while attempting to regain his equilibrium.
Five minutes later, Maeso ruled out Real Madrid's equaliser for a Vinicius Jr handball before awarding the goal after another VAR review determined it was off the shoulder. The decision infuriated Almeria's players and manager, Asier Garitano.
Bellingham also had a goal disallowed for a contentious offside in the buildup, and he nearly scored again a few minutes later with an acrobatic scissor kick that went just wide of Almeria's goal as Real made a late push.
Nine minutes into extra time, following a few close calls and a red card for manager Garitano for complaining to the referee, Bellingham performed his magic inside a crowded box, lifting a cross to Carvajal, who tapped in the winner at the far post.
"Today we were robbed," Almeria player Gonzalo Melero told DAZN.
"It pains me to say it, but there is no other way to look at it. This is not the first time it has happened this year. What happened today exceeded all expectations; it was astounding.
"Nothing more could have been done for them to win the game..."
Real Madrid defender Carvajal disagreed.
"If Melero watches the plays calmly, he will surely realise that they are correctly refereed," Carvajal was quoted as saying by DAZN.
"I told my teammates at halftime that anything could happen until the final minute, and it happened. Thank you to our fans for carrying us up to the sky."
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