The numbers behind VAR tell an unexpected story, with one club losing more points than any other despite widespread criticism of the system.
Real Madrid vs VAR: a telling story of the video review system and the LaLiga club hurt more than any other
VAR has become a major headache for Real Madrid. In recent seasons, the technology has repeatedly made life more difficult for the Spanish giants or, at the very least, prevented games from becoming any easier. During the newly concluded 2025-26 campaign, Madrid finished as the team most heavily penalized by VAR, tying Barcelona for the highest number of interventions against them while also losing more points as a direct consequence. Barcelona, meanwhile, experienced both sides of the coin.
Real Madrid and VAR have never been a good match. The club has been highly critical of the system, yet video review overturned more decisions against Madrid than against any other side. Los Blancos ended the season with 11 VAR interventions that went against them, the same total as Barcelona. Although the two clubs share that unwanted distinction, other figures make it clear why Madrid can claim to have been the team most affected.
The VAR decisions that cost Real Madrid points
VAR had a greater impact on Real Madrid than on Barcelona despite both clubs recording 11 interventions against them. Those reviews ultimately cost Madrid five points in the standings, while Barcelona lost just one. The gap is smaller than in 2024-25, when projections suggested that, without VAR, Real Madrid would have won the league instead of Barcelona. In that campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s side would have gained seven points, while Hansi Flick’s team would have lost five. This season, however, Madrid would not have won the title with or without VAR.
Specifically, two VAR interventions accounted for the five points Madrid lost.
The first came at Montilivi, where Kylian Mbappé had a goal disallowed for handball, denying Xabi Alonso’s side what would have been a victory.
The second arrived at El Sadar, after Álvaro Arbeloa had taken charge. VAR advised the referee to award a penalty after a challenge by Thibaut Courtois on Ante Budimir, while also allowing a goal by Raúl García that had initially been ruled out on the field. Had VAR not existed, Osasuna would have lost 1-0 instead of winning 2-1.
Barcelona lost just one point because of VAR
As for Barcelona, only one of their 11 unfavorable VAR interventions changed the outcome of a game.
That came in the 2-1 defeat at Anoeta, where Fermín López had a goal ruled out because of a prior foul by Dani Olmo on Takefusa Kubo. Without the intervention from the video assistant referee, Real Sociedad would not have taken all three points.
Barcelona received far more favorable VAR interventions
Real Madrid and Barcelona sit at opposite ends of the table when it comes to VAR decisions in their favor.
Barcelona, tied with Mallorca and Sevilla, finished with 11 favorable VAR interventions, the second-highest total in La Liga. Only Athletic Club recorded more, with 12.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, received just four VAR interventions that overturned decisions in their favor. Only Elche, with three, benefited fewer times from video review during the season.
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