La Liga 2017/18: Real Madrid 1-1 Levante, 5 Talking Points

#5 La Liga referees have a good day, almost.

Marcelo was sent off for Real Madrid

The refereeing class could clearly be improved. Sometimes it's not at the top [level], as happened in that Real Madrid and Barcelona match. I have never spoken badly of referees and I did not tell [interim Spanish FA president Juan Luis] Larrea that the referees were treating Real Madrid unfairly. What I said was that it didn't make sense that the talk was about the referee after a match as big as Barcelona against Real Madrid.

Florentino Perez' words ahead of the game undoubtedly put the spotlight on referee Hernandez Hernandez, but the official came out with flying colours.

Despite the television director's attempts in Madrid to place every 50-50 decision under scrutiny, Hernandez got most of the decisions spot on, and despite what a biased Madridista might tell you, got Marcelo's red card absolutely right.

3 - Real Madrid have received three red cards this season, one more than they had last campaign (2 - all competitions). Strange. pic.twitter.com/hseM9s3lPc

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 9, 2017

However, the fact remains that Real Madrid have had 2 red cards already this season. The amount of games Barcelona have taken to have 2 red cards as well? 83.