Spanish and Italian newspapers react to Real Madrid’s ‘robbery’ win over Juventus

Few games end in such a dramatic finale but with a last minute penalty knocking Juventus out of the Champions League, the Italian media condemned a ‘robbery’ on the Serie A leaders. 

Corriere dello Sport led with ‘Che Furto!’ which reads ‘What a robbery!’ after English referee pointed to the spot and sent legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon off following a foul from Mehdi Benatia on Lucas Vasquez. 

‘Champions League, non-existent penalty at the 93rd minute denies Juve the coup at Real: 1-3. Buffon sent off: Referee should be ashamed’

Italian media labelled events at the Bernabeu as a ‘robbery’ following Juventus’ dramatic exit

Gianluigi Buffon’s red card in his final Champions League game has the press wanting justice

That will likely prove to be Buffon’s swansong in the competition and La Gazetta dello Sport ran with ‘The rage and the pride’ having seen a monumental comeback from the Old Lady.  

‘Juventus furious,’ Gazzetta dello Sport continues on the front page. ‘They dominate in Madrid, but go out to a very dubious penalty in the 97th-minute. 3-1 and goodbye to the Champions League. After an epic match, the Bianconeri explode.’

While the Italian sports pages were left to rue a contentious penalty that snatched away a place in the semi-finals, the Spanish press also expressed their surprise at the injustice they had witnessed in Madrid on Wednesday.

‘The theft of the century’ reads Sport as the Spanish press query Real Madrid’s progression

‘The theft of the century’ reads Sport with Buffon’s contentious dismissal the front page image beneath the bold headline. 

Marca were among the minority who looked to defend the game-changing decision having used a reverse angle to show Benatia’s hand on Vasquez’s back as he goes down.

The Spanish publication headlines with ‘It was a penalty!’ which is a view that is sure to divide the European sports press, much as it has done since the award by referee Michael Oliver. 

But Marca remain convinced it was a penalty and vehemently deny suggestions of a ‘robbery’

The holders struggled badly at the Santiago Bernebeu on the night and a brace from Mario Mandzukic along with a scrappy goal from Blaise Matuidi suggested they would join Barcelona in making a surprise quarter-finals exit.  

But after Vasquez was felled inside the area with 30 seconds remaining of normal time, Englishman Oliver pointed to the spot before the angry reaction of Buffon saw him awarded a straight red card. 

Don’t expect the Italian press to forget this one in a hurry…