Benatia recalls Real Madrid penalty kick vs. Juventus: ‘Same feeling’

Marseille director Mehdi Benatia says the second penalty kick awarded to Real Madrid last night left him with the ‘same feeling’ as seven years ago, when he was a Juventus player.

Marseille were unhappy with the officiating in their 2-1 loss against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Benatia recalls Real Madrid penalty decision vs. Juventus

The Merengues were awarded two penalty kicks, both converted by Kylian Mbappé, but the French club was highly critical of referee Irfan Peljto, especially regarding the second spot kick.

Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi said it was a “shameful” decision, while Marseille director Benatia made a comparison with a game he played at the Bernabeu in 2018.

“It’s very hard to accept, but I experienced it seven years ago,” Benatia told French reporters via Calciomercato.com.

“I hadn’t been here in seven years, but I returned and I left with the same feeling. I see my player touch the ball, making a fair challenge for it. It’s true that his arm was there, but either we cut it off or it becomes hard to avoid.”

What happened between Juventus and Real Madrid in 2018

Benatia referred to a Champions League quarter-final tie between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 2018.

The Old Lady was leading 3-0 away after losing the first leg 3-0 in Turin, but referee Michael Oliver gave Real Madrid a late penalty kick, converted by Cristiano Ronaldo, for a Benatia push on Lucas Vázquez, sparking furious Juventus’ protests on and off the pitch.