Jude Bellingham starred again as Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to beat rock-bottom Almeria 3-2 in an incident-packed clash at the Bernabeu.
Following a mixed week that saw them beat Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup before being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid, Real looked on course for a shock defeat as winless Almeria led 2-0 at half-time through Largie Ramazani and Edgar Gonzalez goals.
But Real, benefitting from three key VAR decisions going in their favour, turned things around with Bellingham starting the revival with a penalty – his 18th goal of the season – before Vinicius Junior equalised.
Real then laid siege to the Almeria goal and, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, Brahim Diaz picked out Bellingham at the far post and the 20-year-old’s header back across the area was turned home by Dani Carvajal for a dramatic winner.
Real’s last-16 cup defeat to Atletico went to extra time on Thursday and Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked as if they were still half asleep as Almeria took a shock lead inside 40 seconds on Sunday.
Nacho Fernandez’s intended pass to left-back Ferland Mendy was intercepted by Sergio Arribas and Almeria clinically took advantage, captain Lucas Robertone ending up sliding the ball through to Ramazani to fire past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
That should have been an early wake-up call for Real, but it was not heeded by the 14-time European champions.
They were sloppy in possession and lacked inspiration going forward, and the closest they came to making it 1-1 was Almeria defender Juan Chumi deflecting a cross onto the roof of his own net.
And things got worse for the title-chasing hosts in the 43rd minute when Almeria doubled their lead.
Nacho was again involved but few could have expected his poor clearance to be so emphatically punished, with Gonzalez unleashing a 25-year-old thunderbolt that flew into Kepa’s top corner.
That was a rare goal from the 26-year-old defensive midfielder and, with the score 2-0 at half-time, left Almeria dreaming of a famous win.
Ancelotti, clearly unimpressed at what he was seeing, made three changes at the break and a fired-up Real pulled a goal back inside 10 minutes.
Almeria players were furious to see a penalty awarded for handball against Kaiky, a decision made following a VAR review, but Bellingham stayed calm amongst the furore to roll his penalty down the centre of the goal.
If Almeria were upset up that incident, they were incandescent six minutes later when they had a goal to put them 3-1 up ruled out following another VAR intervention.
Real youth-team product Arribas thought he had scored against his former club after a counter-attack, but the goal was chalked off due to a flailing arm from Dion Lopy into the face of Bellingham after the England man had given away possession in midfield.
That was not the last of the VAR controversies either, with Vinicius’ 68th-minute equaliser eventually being given after another lengthy review.
Referee Francisco Hernandez Maeso had initially ruled out the goal for handball against the Brazil winger, but that was overruled following replays with ball deemed to have hit the forward’s shoulder, leaving Almeria coach Gaizka Garitano – who would end up being red carded in stoppage time – again unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Having drawn level, Real set about searching for a winner and Bellingham saw his curled effort ruled out for offside before Almeria goalkeeper Luis Maximiano superbly denied Vinicius.
Bellingham also saw a spectacular overhead kick go inches wide but, with time almost up, Real would finally get the breakthrough as Carvajal pounced on Bellingham’s knock-down.
Ancelotti excited by Guler potential after Madrid teenager's goal at Granada
Arda Guler was once again on target for Real Madrid against Granada and an excited Carlo Ancelotti believes Los Blancos can expect more to come from the teenager.
Chances to impress in a first-team environment have been limited for Guler, who chose Madrid over Barcelona to join from Fenerbahce last July, owing to the quality of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Yet the Turkey youngster has scored twice in his last three LaLiga starts, finding the net in Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Granada after also striking against Real Sociedad on April 26.
"We still don't know what his potential is because he is very young," the Madrid head coach said of Guler.
"But he is showing incredible talent, he is very effective in front of goal and has speed.
"I don't know what his ceiling is, today it is difficult to say, but he has natural talent and he's doing very well."
Brahim Diaz has also had to settle for a backup role in the Spanish capital but scored twice in the hammering of Granada, as well as a goal for Fran Garcia.
Ancelotti heaped praise on his much-changed Madrid side as the newly-crowned LaLiga champions impressed after reaching the Champions League final in midweek with their win over Bayern Munich.
"Well… it's hard to say who surprised me the most," Ancelotti said after resting the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius and Rodrygo in 10 changes for Saturday's victory.
"Among those who returned, Brahim earned an important role, but I don't want to forget Joselu or Fran Garcia, who arrived this year and did really well.
"Fran in the first period and the others, in terms of goals, were fundamental to having this level at this moment of the season."
Madrid host Alaves and Real Betis either side of a trip to Villarreal to end their league season, before the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.
Milan 5-1 Cagliari: Rossoneri back to winning ways after Pulisic double
Milan snapped a six-match winless run in all competitions with a crushing 5-1 victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari in Saturday's Serie A clash at San Siro.
The win moves Stefano Pioli's side closer to securing second place, sitting on 74 points and seven ahead of third-placed Bologna and eight clear of Juventus, who host Salernitana on Sunday.
Ismael Bennacer opened the scoring after 35 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the centre of the box before Christian Pulisic extended their advantage after a fast break in the 59th minute.
Tijjani Reijnders scored a third for Milan with a superb long-range effort in the 74th minute and Rafael Leao got on the scoresheet seven minutes from time before Pulisic sealed the rout three minutes later with his second of the game and 12th league goal this season.
Nahitan Nandez had pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute for Cagliari, who remain in 15th place with 33 points, three points above the relegation zone.
Madrid's two-goal hero Diaz turns focus to Champions League glory after Granada win
Real Madrid swept aside already relegated Granada in LaLiga on Saturday but Los Blancos attacker Brahim Diaz says all focus is on lifting the Champions League.
Diaz was twice on target as Madrid eased to a 4-0 away victory, with Fran Garcia and Arda Guler also finding the net for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Madrid had already been crowned LaLiga champions last weekend before edging through their Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich in midweek.
The Spanish giants meet Borussia Dortmund in UEFA's showpiece at Wembley Stadium on June 1 – and the Champions League trophy was on Diaz's mind after defeating Granada.
"We all wanted to show that we want to get maximum points in the league. I'm very happy with the goals," Diaz told RMTV.
"I reached 12 goals and seven assists. It's very easy to play here, with these team-mates.
"The most important thing is the titles. We already have the [Spanish] Super Cup, the league and we want the Champions League."
Granada remain in 19th place with 21 points, while 15th-placed Mallorca's victory over Las Palmas earlier in the day confirmed their relegation after just one season in the top flight.
"You could have expected it, of course, but when Mallorca wins it becomes mathematical and getting relegated, it's one of the most complicated games we've ever played," Granada's Carlos Neva told DAZN.
"I told my team-mates that we should finish fighting, with our heads held high. We should enjoy the top flight, because we don't know if we'll ever play in it again."
Madrid head coach Ancelotti, meanwhile, had words of encouragement for the relegated side.
"In sport you have to look at defeat too, it has to be an opportunity to do better in the future," the Italian told his post-match press conference.
"Granada is an important club and they will try everything to get promoted next season and they have the chance to do it."
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