Atletico Madrid defender, Cristian Romero has expressed his dissatisfaction following his first LaLiga encounter with Real Madrid last weekend.
Los Colchoneros secured a 2-1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s side at home.
Footage captured Romero protesting the match officiating as both teams headed to their dressing rooms at half-time.
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender expressed his disappointment, claiming that their opponents were receiving favourable decisions from the referee, thereby making it difficult to compete against them.
“It’s impossible to play against Real Madrid because every decision goes their way. It’s a disgrace,” he complained.
Romero and his Atletico Madrid teammates ultimately prevailed at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, inflicting a disappointing defeat on their rivals.
The victory moved them one point above Los Blancos into second place, while Mourinho’s team remained in fourth place, one point behind Real Betis.
Romero featured in a derby against Real Madrid for the first time after joining Atleti from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.
The referee, Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, faced considerable criticism from Los Blancos following their defeat, particularly for his failure to dismiss Kang-In Lee after a dangerous challenge on Federico Valverde.
Atletico Madrid and LaLiga have responded to the criticism from Los Blancos, rejecting claims that the referee’s decisions materially influenced the outcome of the match.
The referee came under criticism from both sides, with each attributing responsibility to his officiating.
LaLiga: ‘It’s a disgrace’ – Atletico star, Romero says it’s impossible to play against Real Madrid