The Play That Changed The Game In 34 Seconds

VAR Saves Espanyol: The Play That Changed the Match in 34 Seconds

Gil Manzano sent off El Hilali for a tackle on Vinicius, but the VOR room asked him to review and the sanction became yellow in record time.

The RCDE Stadium held its breath in the 24th minute. A cross by Omar El Hilali on Vinicius Junior, with the Brazilian already inside the area, made Jesús Gil Manzano's whistle blow immediately. The signal was forceful: a direct red card. The Espanyol defender, sent off. Madrid, with one more man. The play seemed clear, but in the era of VAR, nothing is final until it is reviewed.

While El Hilali left the field amid protests, Gil Manzano ran towards the sideline. In the VOR room, Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, in charge of the operation, had already activated the protocol. His voice, calm but firm, reached the referee's earpiece: “Jesus, I recommend that you come see the action so that you can consider the possible no red.” It was a formal invitation to a review that the referee could not refuse.

The trip to the monitor took just a few seconds. The audience, expectant, watched as the referee stood in front of the screen. “Okay, give it to me,” he asked. From the room, the response was technical: “I'll leave it for you to see, okay? That there is no impact and so you can see the demolition.” Two phrases that summarized the essence of the doubt: the intensity of the contact and the nature of the fault.

The review was very brief. Gil Manzano watched the replay in slow motion. El Hilali's leg does not come into contact with Vinicius' studs; The knockdown is produced more by a hook than by a violent entry. The criteria changes on the spot. “You didn't hit him with the heels, okay? I'm going to give you a yellow card and cancel the red card,” he announced. The decision, made in less than a minute, returned Espanyol to 11 players and deflated Madrid's moment of superiority.

This action became the epicenter of matchday 34 of LaLiga. It was the only expulsion review of the entire day, a fact that speaks of the initial forcefulness of Gil Manzano and the corrective effectiveness of the VAR. The final report reflected seven warnings: three for Espanyol (El Hilali himself, Edu Expósito and Urko González) and four for Real Madrid (Brahim, Vinicius, Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo).

The incident not only defines a match that ended with a 0-2 white victory, but also puts the focus on the referee protocol. To what extent should a no-impact input be red? The regulation is clear in cases of “violent conduct,” but the nuance of “impact” is key. Figueroa Vázquez, from the VAR, applied that nuance and avoided an expulsion that would have changed the script of the match and, possibly, the fight for the title.

The play also revives the debate over the interpretation of player inputs. Vinicius, a frequent victim of systematic fouls, generated a borderline action. Hilali, in his attempt to stop the race, bordered on a serious foul but did not complete it. The VAR, in this case, acted as a balancing element, correcting a hot decision made in the heat of the game.

The rest of the game passed with Madrid controlling the ball, but without the offensive clarity that they usually show. Espanyol, recomposed with 11, retreated in order. Goals from Brahim and Vinicius who, despite the foul, maintained his energy, ended up deciding the score. However, the echo of the referee review will remain as the technical anecdote of the night.

In the subsequent press conference, Carlo Ancelotti avoided commenting on the controversial move. “I didn't see the play clearly, I prefer not to give an opinion,” he concluded. On the parakeet side, Luis García did acknowledge the relief: “The action was a yellow card, the VAR has done its job.” A vision opposite to the one Gil Manzano had on the field at the beginning.

This episode reinforces the role of VAR as a tool of sports justice, even when the initial decision is made by a referee with extensive international experience like Gil Manzano. The speed of the review—just 34 seconds according to the official timing—shows that the system can be agile and effective, without unnecessarily lengthening the game.

For the championship, the result keeps Madrid in the fight, but the refereeing controversy will remain latent. Each review of this type fuels the debate on the uniformity of criteria. Would the same have been noted in another stadium? Modern football lives off these uncertainties resolved by technology.

On a human level, El Hilali escaped an expulsion that would have been a hard emotional and sporting blow. His yellow card, however, entails a cumulative penalty if he reaches a fifth in the next few days. The VAR saved him from the major penalty, but not the minor one.

The League advances towards its final stretch with VAR as an involuntary protagonist. This play in Cornellá-El Prat will be remembered as the perfect example of how a decision on the field can be reversed with a look from the room. Football, in 2026, is still a sport of moments, but now those moments are validated from an office with monitors.

Keys to the Record Review at the RCDE Stadium

• Minute 24: Gil Manzano shows a direct red card to El Hilali for tackling Vinicius.
• Immediate: The VAR, led by Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, recommends review to the referee.
• 34 seconds: Total duration of the review on the field monitor.
• Change of criteria: The referee determines that there is no impact and replaces the red with yellow.
• Final act: 7 players cautioned (3 from Espanyol, 4 from Madrid).

The review protocol for a possible direct red card is one of the most delicate. The referee must leave the technical area, go to the review area and wait for the VAR to provide him with the key images. In this case, the communication was direct: “there is no impact.” That phrase was decisive. Without contact with the studs, the foul is degraded to an action worthy of a yellow card, not an expulsion.

LaLiga data confirms that, in the 2025/26 season, expulsion reviews have decreased by 12% compared to the previous one. Referees, knowing that VAR is active, tend to be more cautious on the field. However, when they decide to show the red one, the confirmation rate is around 65%. This case falls within the 35% of annulments, a percentage that the RFEF considers a success of corrective justice.

The impact on the game was immediate. Espanyol, who had temporarily lost their right center back, were able to maintain their defensive scheme. Madrid, which had generated two clear chances in the first 20 minutes, lost the factor of numerical superiority. Brahim's goal, in the 38th minute, came with 11 against 11. The second, already in the second half, with Espanyol overturned.

The figure of Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, the VAR, takes center stage. His experience in video arbitration rooms since 2021 has earned him the nickname “the corrector.” This intervention joins three others this season in which he has saved players from dubious expulsions. His work, silent, is already part of the Spanish arbitration landscape.

For Espanyol, the turning point. They remain in the fight for relegation, but with one less player they would have had few options. For Madrid, the victory remains, but the feeling that the rival had a referee respite that lengthened the match. In the table, three points that are worth gold in the pursuit of the leader.

Elite football is sometimes decided in details. A 34-second review, a phrase in a headset, a card change. What was confusion in the stands, on the pitch became justice—or controversy—depending on your point of view. The only thing that is certain is that, today, Espanyol finished the game with 11 and Madrid with 10. The final score, 0-2, is only part of the story.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Controversial Move

What caused the VAR review in the Espanyol – Real Madrid match?
The direct expulsion of Omar El Hilali for a tackle on Vinicius Junior. The VAR, led by Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, considered that the decision on the field could be wrong and recommended referee Jesús Gil Manzano review the action on the monitor.

Why was the red card annulled?
After observing the images, Gil Manzano determined that there was no impact with Vinicius' studs, but rather a non-violent knockdown. According to the regulations, a direct red card for “violent conduct” requires a degree of force and danger that, in its revised criteria, was not given.

How long did the review take?
Approximately 34 seconds from when Gil Manzano arrived at the monitor until he announced the change of sanction. It was one of the quickest ejection reviews so far this season.

What does the arbitration report say about warnings?
The record reflects seven yellow cards: for El Hilali, Edu Expósito and Urko González (Espanyol); and for Brahim, Vinicius, Alexander-Arnold and Gonzalo (Real Madrid). There were no more expulsions.

How did the play affect the development of the game?
Espanyol was able to maintain its defensive structure with 11 players. Madrid lost momentary numerical superiority and could not easily overwhelm. The goals came in a context of equality, not overwhelming dominance due to expulsion.

Is it common for the VAR to annul a direct red card?
Yes, it is one of the main uses of VAR. In LaLiga 2025/26, around 35% of direct expulsion reviews end with annulment or a change to a yellow card.

Who is the VAR that intervened in the play?
Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, international referee with experience in VOR rooms since 2021. He is known for his meticulousness in reviews of violent actions.

What does the regulation say about “impact” on an entry?
The FIFA regulations specify that for a direct red for “violent conduct” there must be a “degree of force that endangers the physical integrity of the opponent.” The absence of impact with the studs or the body usually tips the balance towards yellow.

Were there protests from Real Madrid after the change of decision?
There are no formal protests. Ancelotti, in a press conference, declined to evaluate the move. The Madrid players showed dissatisfaction on the field, but accepted the referee's final decision.

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