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Courtois questions use of VAR in heavy loss to Valencia

Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid
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Thibaut Courtois is certain that antics played a part in the penalty decisions against his side in their first La Liga loss of the season.

Real Madrid’s latest trip to Mestalla turned out to be quite disappointing as they walked back home after being humbled 4-1.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring with an exquisite finish from the edge of the box, and that was pretty much the only highlight of the night for the visitors.

Carlos Soler got himself on the history books as he became the first player of this century to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single La Liga match.

Los Blancos also made some history – only the undesirable one – as Sunday marked their first time conceding four goals in a league game under Zinedine Zidane.

Thibaut Courtois stopped the first spot-kick but couldn’t keep it out when the penalty was retaken after several players were spotted encroaching the box on VAR review.

All three penalties came as a result of handball by the Real Madrid defenders, but the Belgian goalkeeper feels his side were hard done by.

“Maxi screams more, and the way VAR gives penalties…” a frustrated Courtois said after the match, via AS.

“The first penalty is a penalty – it’s bad luck. I don’t know why it was retaken. The second goal is also bad luck.

“There was a foul on [Marco] Asensio in the build-up [to Valencia’s second goal]. I heard him say it in the changing room, but you can’t change anything there.”

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